Matchday With The Manager – Preparing For An Intense Schedule

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Matchday With The Manager – Preparing For An Intense Schedule

Brendan Rodgers says Leicester City’s meeting with Southampton will form part of a relentless fixture schedule that the Foxes are prepared to face head on over the coming weeks.

2021-12-01T07:00:00.000Z

by Sam Jones

Published

01 Dec, 2021

Matchday With The Manager – Preparing For An Intense Schedule

Brendan Rodgers says Leicester City’s meeting with Southampton will form part of a relentless fixture schedule that the Foxes are prepared to face head on over the coming weeks.

Sam Jones

2021-12-01T07:00:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager – Preparing For An Intense Schedule

Brendan Rodgers says Leicester City’s meeting with Southampton will form part of a relentless fixture schedule that the Foxes are prepared to face head on over the coming weeks.

Sam Jones

2021-12-01T07:00:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager – Preparing For An Intense Schedule

Brendan Rodgers says Leicester City’s meeting with Southampton will form part of a relentless fixture schedule that the Foxes are prepared to face head on over the coming weeks.

Sam Jones

2021-12-01T07:00:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager – Preparing For An Intense Schedule

Brendan Rodgers says Leicester City’s meeting with Southampton will form part of a relentless fixture schedule that the Foxes are prepared to face head on over the coming weeks.

Sam Jones

2021-12-01T07:00:00.000Z

One of nine games in December, Wednesday’s 7:30pm kick-off at St. Mary’s Stadium also presents the first of a trio of away trips across the next eight days, which will require a team effort to produce positive results.

There is good reason for optimism heading into this opening fixture of the month, with the Foxes scoring seven goals in two matches, including four in their previous Premier League outing.

Travelling down to the south coast less than three days after their latest triumph, over Watford, Rodgers revealed in his virtual pre-match press conference that the emphasis will very much be on recovery and tactical analysis.

He has been pleased with the majority of what he has seen over the last 180 minutes of football on Filbert Way, which included a win over Legia Warsaw in the UEFA Europa League, as the group continues to develop and aims to carry that same mentality and drive when facing the Saints.

“The team is settling a little bit now,” the former Liverpool and Celtic manager told the media from LCFC Training Ground. “At the beginning of the season, we had players that were missing so we were then having to change the shape of our team to fit in with that and try and adapt to a different structure.

“But I feel the balance in the team has been good in these last couple of games. There’s still areas that we can improve on. We’ve given away a couple of penalties and maybe made a few mistakes but in the main it looks a lot more solid.

“And on top of that, we’re scoring goals, we’ve been creative and look exciting going forward. That’s been the trademark of this team, that’s been our signature as a group since we worked together, and I’m starting to see that now.

“So in a really busy, intense period, we’ve got to recover well. We can’t do as much on the pitch, but lots of preparation in terms of giving the players the information, working through tactical ideas and then getting ready for the next game.

“We’re within touching distance of where we want to be and that’s a big credit to the players. Firstly, their spirit and that collective mentality that they have. They want to keep improving and they want to keep developing.

“As the season goes on and we start to get some players back, we will then hopefully look to continue that progress. I think it’s the mentality of the players, they want to be better. The inconsistency at the beginning of the season has, of course, given us some disappointing results.

“But we’ve also had some very good performances and results. I think now we’re focusing more on the process. Let’s get our process right, let’s look at the fundamentals of our game and then the scoreboard will take care of itself.”

One man in particular who has been a standout performer during City’s last two fixtures is James Maddison, playing a starring role in the 3-1 victory over Legia Warsaw, scoring one and assisting one, before opening the scoring against Watford three days later.

The playmaker also set up both of Jamie Vardy’s first-half strikes during the 4-2 success on Filbert Way, adding to the feeling that the England midfielder is returning to his best form in Leicester City shirt.

Rodgers has backed City’s No.10 to continue producing a high level of performance in all areas of his game, as well as adding to the three goals and four assists registered in the Premier League and Europa League during 2021/22.

The Northern Irishman commented: “I think in the last four or five games or so, he’s showed that consistency, that efficiency in the games where he’s creating goals and scoring goals. But it’s about more than that. When you’re a midfield player playing at the highest level, you are having to contribute without the ball as well.

“That’s something that is an important part of his game also. It may not be so recognised, but you certainly see that side of it. You have to press the game and you’ve got to be in good positions tactically.

“You’ve got to run forward and run back, so all these things are then allowing him to do the other side well, which is creating goals and scoring goals. I’ve been delighted with him and now it’s about that consistency and focus, showing that mentality, and having that determination and hunger between now and the end of the season to keep taking that onto the field.

“His focus has been returning to form for Leicester City, he's feeling good again, getting working again and then when you see him at that level and with that quality, then of course he’s one of the top talents in the country.”

Opponents Southampton enter Wednesday’s encounter following back-to-back away defeats to Norwich City and Liverpool and will be hoping for a more positive result as they return to home soil.

Despite a 4-0 scoreline at Anfield on Saturday, the Saints have conceded just 18 goals so far this term – the second lowest in the bottom half of the Premier League table and five fewer than Leicester – though, having scored 11 times, only Norwich have netted on fewer occasions in the top flight.

“It’s difficult when you are outside of those two or three teams that are on a different level,” City’s manager explained. “It’s a challenge. For them, they’ve had some good results, they’ll have felt they maybe could have had better results with a bit more luck or better finishing.

“It’s always a tough game against Southampton, you really have to earn your right against them. Ralph [Hasenhüttl's] system is pretty much the same, he’s started to adapt a little bit this year where they are playing that 4-4-2 and then, at times, reverting to a three within the games.

“Either way, we have to be ready, and we will be ready for a tough game. I think they’ve got talented players that can cause you a problem. They’ve also got some young players who are hungry and looking to prove a point. We’ll have to work well and play well to get the three points.”

The 48-year-old added praise for the Foxes supporters and their backing across the previous two matches at King Power Stadium. He hopes those who travel down to the south coast in midweek can be sent home happy once again.

“Our supporters here are such a big plus for us,” Rodgers said. “And we’ve seen it here in our last two games, how they really push the team and are absolutely brilliant, and that’s what you want.

“Especially against some of the top teams, you’re never going to have it all your own way and the supporters are going to push you and help you make a huge difference. We saw it against Legia in the European game that we needed to win, and we saw it at the weekend.

“We want that support for the players and it’s the biggest shot in the arm, that encouragement, and something that our supporters are brilliant at.”

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