'We Weren't Tough Enough' – Rodgers' Forest Reaction

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'We Weren't Tough Enough' – Rodgers' Forest Reaction

Brendan Rodgers says a lack of defensive stability contributed to the nature of Leicester City's defeat at Nottingham Forest in the Emirates FA Cup.

2022-02-06T20:49:44.919Z

'We Weren't Tough Enough' – Rodgers' Forest Reaction

Brendan Rodgers says a lack of defensive stability contributed to the nature of Leicester City's defeat at Nottingham Forest in the Emirates FA Cup.

2022-02-06T20:49:44.919Z

'We Weren't Tough Enough' – Rodgers' Forest Reaction

Brendan Rodgers says a lack of defensive stability contributed to the nature of Leicester City's defeat at Nottingham Forest in the Emirates FA Cup.

2022-02-06T20:49:44.919Z

'We Weren't Tough Enough' – Rodgers' Forest Reaction

Brendan Rodgers says a lack of defensive stability contributed to the nature of Leicester City's defeat at Nottingham Forest in the Emirates FA Cup.

2022-02-06T20:49:44.919Z

'We Weren't Tough Enough' – Rodgers' Forest Reaction

Brendan Rodgers says a lack of defensive stability contributed to the nature of Leicester City's defeat at Nottingham Forest in the Emirates FA Cup.

2022-02-06T20:49:44.919Z

- Leicester City fell to a 4-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest on Sunday- It's a result which ends the Foxes' participation in the 2021/22 Emirates FA Cup- Manager Brendan Rodgers commented on the performance at full-time- The City manager highlighted a lack of stability in defence and mistakes made at key moments

Two goals inside two first-half minutes from Philip Zinckernagel and Brennan Johnson saw Forest race ahead at the City Ground, before Joe Worrall made it three before the interval. Kelechi Iheanacho did get one back for Leicester, but Djed Spence added a fourth after the break on Sunday.

It marks a deeply frustrating end to City's FA Cup campaign, after lifting the trophy in May, and Rodgers was able to isolate the reasons for it in post-match.

"In terms of the goals we gave away, it was [a fair reflection of the game]," the Northern Irishman told LCFC TV in his assessment at full-time. "We started okay, but we lacked stability at the back. We gave away poor goals and the two quick goals rocked us.

"Everything you need in a game of this importance, or any game, but in particular a derby game away from home, you need to have authority and physicality and we lacked that in abundance. They deserved to win. They scored the goals, showed a greater desire, and that's the disappointment.

"We made mistakes. The mistakes then affect the confidence of the team. To go behind to two quick goals, then you're chasing the game. For me, it's something I've seen for a little period now, that hunger.

"These players, some of them have done very well, but we lacked that hunger and physicality, which was never the case, so that's something that's a concern. Today, we weren't tough enough."

One positive was the return of Ricardo Pereira from a fractured fibula injury sustained in December. Rodgers also pointed to the performance of James Justin and Wilfred Ndidi in Nottingham.

"It's good to get [Ricardo] back, get some minutes in his legs," he added. "I thought James Justin was excellent in the game. Wilf Ndidi was competitive in the midfield, but apart from that, we had too many going through the motions."

Liverpool at Anfield is next up for the Foxes in the Premier League on Thursday evening. The Leicester City manager is looking for a much-improved performance. A 1-0 success was secured over the Reds in the home fixture back in December.

"That's what we have to do," the 49-year-old explained. "If we play with that mentality, then it'll be a long night for us at Anfield. We've shown against Liverpool this season that we have that ability to get a result and a performance, but today was nowhere near it."

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