Matchday With The Manager – Opportunities For Younger Players & Assessing Spurs

Brendan Rodgers believes Leicester City will be prepared tactically for the challenge which Tottenham Hotspur will pose on Thursday despite both sides suffering extensive selection concerns over recent weeks.

2021-12-16T07:00:00.000Z

Brendan Rodgers believes Leicester City will be prepared tactically for the challenge which Tottenham Hotspur will pose on Thursday despite both sides suffering extensive selection concerns over recent weeks.

2021-12-16T07:00:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager – Opportunities For Younger Players & Assessing Spurs

Brendan Rodgers believes Leicester City will be prepared tactically for the challenge which Tottenham Hotspur will pose on Thursday despite both sides suffering extensive selection concerns over recent weeks.

2021-12-16T07:00:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager – Opportunities For Younger Players & Assessing Spurs

Brendan Rodgers believes Leicester City will be prepared tactically for the challenge which Tottenham Hotspur will pose on Thursday despite both sides suffering extensive selection concerns over recent weeks.

2021-12-16T07:00:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager – Opportunities For Younger Players & Assessing Spurs

Brendan Rodgers believes Leicester City will be prepared tactically for the challenge which Tottenham Hotspur will pose on Thursday despite both sides suffering extensive selection concerns over recent weeks.

2021-12-16T07:00:00.000Z

The Foxes will be without up to nine players at King Power Stadium for a multitude of reasons, including positive COVID-19 cases, mild illnesses and injury, while Spurs themselves have seen two previous matches called off for similar issues as well.

Rodgers' main issue is in defence with several centre-backs out of contention, including Jonny Evans and Çağlar Söyüncü, who both picked up injuries during the 4-0 victory over Newcastle United on Sunday. The Foxes manager, though, says it's a situation which offers others with opportunities.

While trying to responsibly manage the development of the Club's youngsters, some may be involved in the matchday squad this week – four days after midfielder Kasey McAteer, 20, emerged from the bench to make his Premier League debut against the Magpies on Filbert Way.

"We may do," Rodgers said, when asked about playing youngsters over the festive season. "We had Kasey McAteer make his first Premier League appearance at the weekend and that’s something I love. I love giving young players an opportunity.

"But what’s also really important, you can also deter a young player his career by putting them in too early. It’s not just about having players available and having young players, they have to have the right qualities and they have to be at the right stage of their temperament and mentality to be given the opportunity. Otherwise, you can actually really put them back in their career, but it’s an opportunity.

"We’ve got enough players to start the game and then we’ll have a number of players on the side that can make an impact."

Youri Tielemans was out with a calf issue over the end of November and into early December, but the Belgium international is now back for Leicester. On Sunday, City's No.8 delivered an impressive display in the heart of midfield, notching a brace against Newcastle.

"He gives you that experience in the team," Rodgers explained. "His courage to take the ball, his knowledge of the game inside the game is very good. I can rely on him 150 per cent knowing that he knows what he’s doing inside the football game. He’s very effective and efficient in the game.

"He creates and scores goals and he’s added a defensive side to his game over these last couple of seasons, which is very important. It makes him a real complete midfield player. I’m delighted to have him back. He’s a great guy and a wonderful player."

With Spurs not playing their last two matches due to COVID-19 cases at the north London club, it will be difficult for City's backroom team to anticipate their starting XI this week. One thing Rodgers knows for certain, though, is that Antonio Conte's men will pose a considerable challenge.

"I think it’s going to take time for Antonio coming in, putting the system in place," the 48-year-old added. "It always takes that little period of time. Of course, you can see the changes, with very little training time. That’s the other thing.

"It’s a very difficult moment, it’s not like pre-season, where you have five-to-six weeks to really ingrain your methods and your standards. You can see the adaptation and how they’re working. Antonio’s pretty much been a back-three and, whether it’s 3-5-2 or 3-4-4, it’s pretty much been that structure.

"I’m sure, over time, he’ll look to improve and develop them. They’ve had a couple of positive results over these last few games and he’ll want to continue with that, I’m sure.

"We've had limited time, of course, after Sunday. We've been recovering, but we've certainly been able to analyse footage of the previous games. One of the things you look to do when you're preparing the team is you're looking to anticipate what team they might play, what changes they might make.

"As I said, with Antonio, the structure of the team is pretty much set at 3-4-3. Following his coaching career, that's proved pretty successful for him. We pretty much know what that will be, it's just a case of then trying to figure out the possibilities in terms of players playing in different positions.

"Whatever team they have, we know it'll be a team with quality. They've got real good depth in their squad and they'll be a challenge for us."

LATEST HEADLINES

James, O'Brien & Lehmann Among End Of Season Award Winners Jordan James collected three honours in our End of Season Awards as he claimed the Men’s Player of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season.

20 Hours Ago

Grounds Team Recognised With EFL Award We have been recognised at the 2025/26 EFL Awards for our playing surface at King Power Stadium with the Sky Bet Championship Grounds Team of the Season award.

23 Hours Ago

Braybrooke Set For Play-Off Semi-Final Showdown Sammy Braybrooke is in line to play a part as Chesterfield enter the Sky Bet League Two Play-Offs this week.

06 May, 2026

We Fought Until The End, Says Keane Katie Keane labelled her home debut a dream come true, but stated there is still work to be done after a 3-1 loss to Chelsea.

05 May, 2026