Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers admits staying up is their priority this season.
City have lost four in a row and sit bottom ahead of their trip to Brighton.
Rodgers said: “I felt six months ago we needed to improve the squad in the summer because every team, no matter how good you have been, needs regenerating. We are three-and-a-half years on and not a great deal has changed in terms of the starting 11.
“I knew six months ago it would be an issue for us and of course we haven't been able to do it [refresh the squad]. But we're not going to lay down and roll over, we have to find a way now. Our objective this season is to get to 40 points.
“It's totally different. No, (I'm not preparing for a relegation scrap), I'm preparing to get to 40 points and looking forward to getting working and everyone going in the same direction."
These comments are at odds with the ambitions of the City players, who want to compete in Europe again. But Rodgers is not asking them to pare down their hopes.
He added: “I'm always happy if I have ambitious players. I think it's important they want to do the very best they can.
“For example, James Maddison is a top, top player. Because of what we don't have I found myself having to move him around the pitch to try and influence the game in the areas where he could help the team.
“He's just a really, really outstanding player. He's really grown and developed and I'm happy he has ambition. I want players who are ambitious, players who want to do well for the club and do well for their own careers. That's certainly not something I wouldn't like. I want them to have that ambition."