Matchday With The Manager – Performing For The Supporters

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Matchday With The Manager – Performing For The Supporters

Brendan Rodgers says Leicester City owe the Blue Army a result and a performance in Monday's East Midlands clash with Nottingham Forest.

2022-10-03T07:04:49.600Z

Matchday With The Manager – Performing For The Supporters

Brendan Rodgers says Leicester City owe the Blue Army a result and a performance in Monday's East Midlands clash with Nottingham Forest.

2022-10-03T07:04:49.600Z

Matchday With The Manager – Performing For The Supporters

Brendan Rodgers says Leicester City owe the Blue Army a result and a performance in Monday's East Midlands clash with Nottingham Forest.

2022-10-03T07:04:49.600Z

Matchday With The Manager – Performing For The Supporters

Brendan Rodgers says Leicester City owe the Blue Army a result and a performance in Monday's East Midlands clash with Nottingham Forest.

2022-10-03T07:04:49.600Z

Matchday With The Manager – Performing For The Supporters

Brendan Rodgers says Leicester City owe the Blue Army a result and a performance in Monday's East Midlands clash with Nottingham Forest.

2022-10-03T07:04:49.600Z

The Foxes were beaten by their local neighbours 4-1 at the City Ground in the the Emirates FA Cup last winter and have started the new Premier League campaign with six losses in seven games. However, Rodgers now believes there is an opportunity to begin fixing that this week.

Speaking to the media last Friday, the Northern Irishman touched upon a range of topics. Here's what he had to say.

The international break – Breaking the cycle

City's players are now back after the final international break ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar this winter. Coming after a 6-2 reverse at Tottenham Hotspur, Rodgers believes it was useful for the players to pause the domestic season and work on some fundamental elements of their work.

"It definitely broke the cycle that we were on," he explained. "It was a tough summer and a tough start to the season with the games, but it also gave us a chance to reflect on the performance [at Spurs].

"Despite the scoreline, there was lots from a coaching perspective that we could look at and analyse that was good in the game. If we can organise a little better some of the small details within the game then we believe we can really push on in this next set of games."

Despite the scoreline in north London, Rodgers was enthused by the first 72 minutes of the game, before Son Heung-min inspired a late scoring spree for the home side.

"When you’re on a run of games where you’re not winning, of course your confidence can be affected," the Northern Irishman added. "For large parts of that game, for 72 minutes of the game, when it was 3-2, we were still very much in the game. We defended well, we were tight, we were together.

"Actually, when the game opened up, it was from us, but it was from a good place. It was the players, behind in the game, just wanting to throw everything to get back in the game. Of course, if you do that against Tottenham, they’ve got Harry Kane and Son, who are incredible in transition and can punish you.

"The scoreline, I didn’t feel, reflected the game because, for large parts of it, I thought we were very good in the game. Listen, we can’t deny we were disappointed with the two set pieces. We do hours of work, study, analysis, we work on the field, but it’s [about] being able to take that into the game situation. Apart from those two moments, we didn’t concede so much, especially in the first half."

Forest – Giving back to the fans

While Rodgers reserved praise for Steve Cooper's work at Nottingham Forest – ending their 23-year wait for top-flight football last term – the Foxes manager is firmly focused on prolonging their visitors' tough start to life in the Premier League. Forest made 22 signings this summer.

"I think it’s a contrast in terms of the two clubs with signings and whatnot, but listen, it’s always difficult, that first year back in," the Leicester manager said. "I’ve experienced that myself as a manager. Steve did a brilliant job to take them from where they were to get them into the Premier League.

"To then create a cohesive unit and team, with so many new faces, is a real, real challenge. It’s been a difficult start also for them, in terms of some of the results. For us, it’s a great game to look forward to. We really owe the supporters on this one.

"It hasn’t been a great start to the season for us [and] the result last year. We’re very determined. The attitude is there for us and the energy’s there to produce a performance that can hopefully kick-start our season."

Rodgers acknowledges that the Club's fanbase are not at all happy with their start to the season. Fixing that is on him, the players and the Club, he says.

"It’s our job to change the mood for the supporters," Rodgers explained. "There’s no doubt about that. We haven’t been to our level this season. We want them to come back.

"I remember when I first came here, I first came into the ground and the games against Bournemouth and Fulham we real games of energy. There was a real good feeling around that. When we were playing, you felt that they felt that we would win the game.

"Of course, the expectations have grown so high over these last three years that now it’s deemed that’s how it should be. That’s what we want to be. We want to be that team that, whether we go home or away – but particularly at home – that supporters will come and enjoy watching the team.

"That’s up to us to change that mood. If they can give us the backing and the players that support on a Monday night at King Power Stadium, it should be a fantastic evening for us. We really want to put in the performance for them. Last season’s result and performance wasn’t anywhere near the standard we would expect. Hopefully this can be the performance and result that lifts them, lifts the team, and then we can really look forward."

Showing resilience – Coming through a rough patch

It's been a tough period for everyone involved with Leicester City, including the manager. During Friday's press conference, he was asked to provide an insight into how he's worked through that spell and the confidence he has that the Foxes can return to winning ways.

"Believe it or not, it’s easy," he said. "I’ve been coaching and managing now for quite a number of years. Obviously, with that, you learn to regulate all the noise that takes place within the game.

"Naturally, if you’re bottom of the league and you’ve lost six of your seven games, then you’re not going to be flavour of the month. You understand that. I think you learn through experience that you don’t isolate yourself. That’s always important. I love working with these players.

"I believe, like last season, that we’ll come good by the end of the season and we’ll get into a good position. It’s been a tough start for us, I know that. But I see these players work and I see their attitude. That’s something which ultimately gives me strength.

"Outside, I’m reflective with myself, I’m honest with myself whenever I don’t think I’ve done a good job, but I also know I’m the best person to help this team move forward. That’s something I believe we’ll do in the coming weeks."

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