Matchday With The Manager – Ranieri's Return & Building On Legia Victory

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Matchday With The Manager – Ranieri's Return & Building On Legia Victory

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers expects Watford to bring a speedy directness in their game to King Power Stadium on Sunday.

2021-11-28T07:00:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager – Ranieri's Return & Building On Legia Victory

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers expects Watford to bring a speedy directness in their game to King Power Stadium on Sunday.

2021-11-28T07:00:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager – Ranieri's Return & Building On Legia Victory

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers expects Watford to bring a speedy directness in their game to King Power Stadium on Sunday.

2021-11-28T07:00:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager – Ranieri's Return & Building On Legia Victory

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers expects Watford to bring a speedy directness in their game to King Power Stadium on Sunday.

2021-11-28T07:00:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager – Ranieri's Return & Building On Legia Victory

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers expects Watford to bring a speedy directness in their game to King Power Stadium on Sunday.

2021-11-28T07:00:00.000Z

The Foxes go into the visit of Claudio Ranieri's Hornets in optimistic mood following Thursday's emphatic UEFA Europa League victory over Legia Warsaw on Filbert Way, but they will be determined to improve their Premier League fortunes over the coming weeks and months.

Sunday's clash, of course, sees Ranieri return to Leicester for the first time as an away manager since his heroic work during the Club's first-ever top tier title-winning triumph in 2016. Rodgers is sure the Blue Army will afford the Italian a welcome worthy of his status at King Power Stadium.

"Claudio coming back here for the first team as a manager will be a special occasion," said the 47th permanent Leicester City manager, who lifted the Emirates FA Cup last term and the FA Community Shield early on in 2021/22. "It's a great opportunity for the supporters to give him a great welcome.

"He had an incredible year here and it was such an incredible story he was the leader of. Obviously, my concentration is purely on us getting the three points, but it’ll be a wonderful occasion. That experience in isolation was incredible really. I don’t think anybody expected Leicester City to win the league.

"The legacy, as well as winning the Premier League, will be the feeling. The feeling that team gave supporters, not just Leicester City supporters, but supporters around the world. It gave hope to people that anything is possible. To see him win his first title as a manager was special as well.

"It was a really brilliant job that he did and a lot of the players were exceptional and played at a really high level through that season to win the title. He’ll always be held in the highest regard here. We (Celtic) played Leicester (in the International Champions Cup) after they’d won the title.

"I saw all the players at Parkhead that day which was amazing. During the season itself, it was amazing just watching the story unfold. I was doing some commentary abroad and the game I felt they could win it was the Man City game (a 3-1 away win for the Foxes in February 2016).

"Just watching the whole story, the joy it was giving people, and then seeing it through in the end, it was a really special, iconic season. In any mode of sport, it’s one of the greatest that ever was."

All attention will swiftly turn, naturally, to the matter at hand – adding another three points to Leicester's Premier League tally. In order to do so, Rodgers believes City must be prepared to counteract Watford's speedy, direct style of play and operate with attacking flair of their own on Filbert Way.

"He was obviously brought into a team that was towards the bottom," the 48-year-old continued. "In the first game, you’re assessing the players, and it was a tough first game for them (a 5-0 defeat by Liverpool). He’s had some fantastic results, away at Everton (a 5-2 away success) and at home to Manchester United (winning 4-1) in their last game.

"They’ve got some really good players and he’ll be hoping to go in there and make sure they stay in the league, that’s the objective. They’ve had some terrific results. With Claudio’s teams, they’re always organised. He’s an incredibly experienced manager who’s coached all around the world.

"He’ll also know taking a team here will be a difficult game. They’ve got good players, especially in the counter attack.

"They’ve got speed in the front line and, from what I’ve seen, they’ve been pretty direct with that speed in the game. They look to be organised when they haven’t got the ball. He’s still obviously got really good enthusiasm to manage and coach and he’ll come here to try and get the result."

Thursday's victory over Legia was undoubtedly a morale-booster for the Foxes, who climbed to the top of Group C in the Europa League as a result. There was plenty which pleased Rodgers about the nature of his side's performance – especially the mentality on display for large spells.

"It was about the result and the performance," he said. "I was very pleased with both. We spoke about it in the last couple of days in the training sessions and then, before the game, we knew we needed to play our football. It’s based around high pressing and a really intense counter press.

"From there, we then have players with the tools and the qualities when they’re at their best levels to exploit that. That I was very pleased with. We had quick ball circulation, better positioning on the field, better concentration. Overall, I was really pleased with the performance level.

"When we can play to that level, we normally get good results. If you look at the team as well, it was a young team. A lot of the players, especially at this level, are getting good experience. We showed a great commitment, a great mentality and thoroughly deserved it."

The backing of the Foxes faithful will once again be a crucial component of the occasion on Sunday if Leicester are to be successful. Rodgers was delighted by their contribution on Thursday and called for more of the same during the clash with Watford.

"The supporters will show their appreciation accordingly to Claudio, absolutely," he added. "Then, once the game begins, they’ll be right behind their team and ready to push the team. That’s what we got [on Thursday]. For my time here, the support has been brilliant.

"Away from home as well, they’re amazing. When they get behind the team, it’s a really strong force. It gives us that extra push and extra energy that we need. That was the only point I was making (after defeat by Chelsea last weekend). You saw in Chelsea’s result against Juventus, the level they are at.

"They’re one of the top three teams in world football at the moment. We saw it [on Thursday], from the first whistle, you sensed the crowd were behind the team. That synergy between them and the players was amazing and that really gave us that extra push. That’s what Leicester City’s about.

"We can make King Power Stadium a real fortress for any team to come here."

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