Former Watford and Brighton manager under pressure at Leicester City’s sister club OH Leuven | OneFootball

Oscar Garcia is starting to come under some pressure. The former Brighton and Watford manager took over as OH Leuven head coach midway through the 2023/2024 season and kept the side in the Pro League in dramatic fashion. However, just a few months into this season, the side are not performing to levels expected of them. After 10 games, the side who are owned by the same owners as Leicester City sit third from bottom with just two wins to their name.

One of the sides biggest problems last season was the lack of options upfront. Their record signing, Jonatan Braut Brunes, failed to impress, although he was afforded few opportunities to do so. He has since left, with the side bringing in Mickael Biron and Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi. Neither have truly fired yet, but like Braut Brunes, have been given little opportunity. Instead, Garcia has opted for winger Konan N’Dri or midfielder and captain Mathieu Maertens as striking options. Maertens has, throughout his career, been much more effective playing in behind or just off of another striker. It was clearly the wrong tactic during the sides 3-0 defeat to Gent.

While N’Dri has found the net a few times, he is still obviously better suited to playing out wide. Biron has remained rooted to the bench and his frustration looks evident when he does get on the pitch. The 27-year-old is on loan from RWDM, where he scored seven goals in 24 games. Neither he, nor Ikwuemesi have found the net this season, but then they have hardly had many chances to do so.

Where the pressure is mounting on Garcia is that, elsewhere on the pitch, the side have talent. In the central areas they have plenty of options, with Birger Verstraete, Siebe Schrijvers, Youssef Maziz, William Balikwisha and Ezechiel Banzuzi all worthy of starting every week. Given that the club is struggling to score and thus win games, despite having signed strikers, is where Garcia will be under the microscope. He has been provided with the tools, but if he doesn’t use them and results remain the same, the blame will start with him.

This weekend the side host a free scoring Antwerp side. OH Leuven haven’t won in four matches, losing the last two with eight goals conceded. They have also only picked up one point in that time. This came against Kortrijk, a game that they dominated in terms of chances but failed to convert. Another poor showing on Sunday could well see Garcia going into the clash with Charleroi needing a win to save his job.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson