Matchday With The Manager – Improving The Performance Level

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Matchday With The Manager – Improving The Performance Level

Brendan Rodgers is eager to see Leicester City return to producing a higher level of performance when Manchester United arrive at King Power Stadium on Saturday (3pm BST kick-off).

2021-10-16T06:00:00.000Z

by Sam Jones

Published

16 Oct, 2021

Matchday With The Manager – Improving The Performance Level

Brendan Rodgers is eager to see Leicester City return to producing a higher level of performance when Manchester United arrive at King Power Stadium on Saturday (3pm BST kick-off).

Sam Jones

2021-10-16T06:00:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager – Improving The Performance Level

Brendan Rodgers is eager to see Leicester City return to producing a higher level of performance when Manchester United arrive at King Power Stadium on Saturday (3pm BST kick-off).

Sam Jones

2021-10-16T06:00:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager – Improving The Performance Level

Brendan Rodgers is eager to see Leicester City return to producing a higher level of performance when Manchester United arrive at King Power Stadium on Saturday (3pm BST kick-off).

Sam Jones

2021-10-16T06:00:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager – Improving The Performance Level

Brendan Rodgers is eager to see Leicester City return to producing a higher level of performance when Manchester United arrive at King Power Stadium on Saturday (3pm BST kick-off).

Sam Jones

2021-10-16T06:00:00.000Z

Leicester have collected eight points from their opening seven games this term, currently sitting 13th in the top-flight standings following successive 2-2 draws with Burnley and Crystal Palace.

The recent pause in competitive action, meanwhile, has allowed the Foxes manager to critically assess his team’s start to the Premier League campaign in greater depth, and pinpoint how they can progress during the remainder of 2021/22.

“I think the international break has been a great opportunity to reflect,” Rodgers told the media in his virtual pre-match press conference from the King Power Centre at LCFC Training Ground in Seagrave. “Obviously, a lot of the players haven’t been here.

“It’s really about resetting and getting back to the fundamentals of our game. I was able to look at it from a dispassionate position, assess the team, see where we’re at and how we can improve, of which there are many areas.

“But what I know is that we have a brilliant group of players here who have development in them. They’ve had relative success over these last couple of seasons and we haven’t talked too much about injuries this season, but naturally for a team like ourselves, that can really affect our performance level.

“We need to get back to how we press the game, synchronising the team so we’re all together and then play the fast, dynamic football, with confidence, that allows us to create opportunities and score. We’ll look to get back to that level in the coming weeks.

“There’s only seven games gone, it’s still very early. Two wins, two draws, three defeats is not the ideal start, but we’ve still got a long way to go. It’s really all about what you do at the end of the season.”

City are now entering another busy period with five further fixtures to come before the end of the month - in three different competitions.

Rodgers says there is a need to embrace the increase in demand brought on by the successes of previous seasons and believes an improvement in the way his side plays will lead to results taking care of themselves in the coming weeks.

“It’s all about performance,” he explained. “That’s what we’ve always tried to focus on. We know if we perform well, we can win games. We’ll see where we’re at after 10 games and where we position ourselves. We’ve got a great run of games in this next block now through to the international break in November.

“We wanted to get European football and with that is a huge demand. For these first few years, that’s been fantastic. This year, we’ve had a little bit of a dip, but the schedule doesn’t change. If you’re successful, you’re going to have lots of games.

“We haven’t really been at our level, just in terms of the speed of the game and our defending. It’s something that we spoke about. It’s been fairly straightforward for me over this last couple of weeks in terms of identifying the level we need to be at.

“Fixing that is my responsibility. The players can go out and play with that freedom, but always with a tactical discipline. If we can get back to that, we’re a great team and I enjoy watching us play. Obviously, I enjoy even more when we win.

“It’s recognising where the issues and problems are. But defending is also with the ball for us. When we’re at our best, we have the ball for longer periods, and that’s another element of our game that we need to improve. Keeping the ball, not making loose or sloppy passes and conserving possession – that’s also defending.

“Those two items we’ve been able to really focus on and look at and get some cohesive work in on that over the past few days. Hopefully that can pay dividends for us over the next games.”

Saturday’s opposition also failed to take maximum points in either of their previous two fixtures ahead of the internationals, though a stronger start sees the Red Devils occupy fourth spot in the current table, level on points with title holders Manchester City.

The Northern Irishman is all too aware that a result against the 13-time Premier League champions will be less than straightforward, not least given the attacking quality at the Manchester club’s disposal.

However, with the backing of the Blue Army behind the team, he believes it could be a game that galvanises the Foxes’ season.

The 48-year-old added: “It will be two teams really motivated to get three points. We’re looking forward to playing at home with our supporters. The support that we get at home is great for us and hopefully we can do that justice. It’s a big game.

“We had some great games against Manchester United last year and we’ll look to put in a performance. You know you have to perform against the top teams to get the points. We’re motivated by that. We’ve got to be super concentrated.

“They are a top side with quality players. Ole [Gunnar Solskjær] will always have them motivated. They understand when you play for Manchester United, you’re looking to win every single game.

“The front players are a threat. Marcus Rashford coming back is a huge boost for them because he’s a top, top player. Jadon Sancho came in, adapting to his team and the league, and he has big quality.

“Cristiano Ronaldo speaks for himself. He's one of the greatest players to have played the game. He’s an incredible role model for all players, not just those at Manchester United. He’ll come in with goals. His game has changed over the past five or six years, but he always brings goals.

“They have always been very good in transition, breaking out from defence with players that are fast and dynamic and can give you a problem. But we’ve always enjoyed the games against them.”

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