Leicester City manager Russell Martin has spoken out against what he describes as "personal" attacks following the team's difficult start to the season. The League One side, widely expected to bounce back to the Championship after consecutive relegations, currently sits 18th in the standings with only one win in their opening five matches.
The club's dire results have placed Martin's position under intense scrutiny, particularly after a 4-0 home defeat to Oxford United last weekend, which led to chants of "sacked in the morning" from supporters. Martin acknowledged the significant toll the criticism has taken, especially on his loved ones.
"It has become really personal from some guys in the media and definitely from fans," Martin stated. "It is what it is, and I have to deal with it. It doesn't affect me too much, genuinely, but it is really difficult for the people around me, who know me and understand me and know what I am."
He expressed bewilderment at the level of criticism, noting that even players have questioned the reasons behind the intense scrutiny. "I don't know why I upset so many people. One of the players asked me this week why I am so criticised outside of here, because obviously they see stuff, and I can't answer it."
Martin's possession-heavy playing style has drawn criticism, with former Foxes forward Matt Piper describing it as "passing teams to death." However, the squad appears to retain faith in their manager's philosophy. Captain Harry Souttar emphasized that the players bear sole responsibility for the team's performance, while 20-year-old defender Jayden Joseph urged patience from the fanbase, believing the team's strategy will eventually yield success.
"Speak to the players and people I've worked with, and (then) people who have never seen it and have maybe watched a few clips of some bits, and it's a very different perception from reality," Martin said. "But I guess when you try to do something that is a bit different to some, then it's always there to be shot at."
Martin remains committed to his approach, stating, "I love what I do, I love my job and love always trying to develop people and players by playing in a way where I think they can bring the best version of themselves."
He acknowledged that his managerial record has been challenging since guiding Southampton to the Premier League via the 2023-24 Championship play-offs. Across spells with Southampton, Rangers, and Leicester, Martin has won only three of his last 28 league matches, a win ratio of 11 percent. His tenure at Rangers saw just one league victory in seven games.
Despite the current difficulties, Martin expressed confidence in his methods and his team's potential. "There is enough feeling from me and the players I work with that it can be really brilliant at times," he said. "I always have to keep learning and I spent a long time out of the game after Rangers and spent a lot of time watching different football and trying to sharpen my tools. The most frustrating thing is that I've enjoyed the process here so much so far and it's not quite shown with the results, but I'm convinced it will. Otherwise, I wouldn't do it. So ultimately I'll keep doing what I'm doing and hopefully we will be really successful and I really believe we can be."