Matchday With The Manager: Villa, English Talent & Away Form

Next Match | Saturday 2 May Sat 2 May

BLB

(A)

00 D

15 H

19 M

57 S

Interviews & Features

Heritage

Photos

Matchday With The Manager: Villa, English Talent & Away Form

Brendan Rodgers believes an individual will to succeed among Aston Villa's squad has spread through the entire club to enable Dean Smith's men to enjoy a positive 2020/21 season so far.

2021-02-21T07:04:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager: Villa, English Talent & Away Form

Brendan Rodgers believes an individual will to succeed among Aston Villa's squad has spread through the entire club to enable Dean Smith's men to enjoy a positive 2020/21 season so far.

2021-02-21T07:04:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager: Villa, English Talent & Away Form

Brendan Rodgers believes an individual will to succeed among Aston Villa's squad has spread through the entire club to enable Dean Smith's men to enjoy a positive 2020/21 season so far.

2021-02-21T07:04:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager: Villa, English Talent & Away Form

Brendan Rodgers believes an individual will to succeed among Aston Villa's squad has spread through the entire club to enable Dean Smith's men to enjoy a positive 2020/21 season so far.

2021-02-21T07:04:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager: Villa, English Talent & Away Form

Brendan Rodgers believes an individual will to succeed among Aston Villa's squad has spread through the entire club to enable Dean Smith's men to enjoy a positive 2020/21 season so far.

2021-02-21T07:04:00.000Z

Leicester City's 25th top-flight outing of the campaign takes them to Villa Park on Sunday to face a side who have already secured creditable results against the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal this term, as well as leaving King Power Stadium with three points back in October.

While the Foxes currently hold a 10-point advantage over Smith's West Midlands outfit in the Premier League table, Villa have two games in hand on the teams around them.

If both end in victories, it could elevate them into the coveted top-four positions. Previewing Sunday's visit to Birmingham, Rodgers spoke glowingly of the work being undertaken by Smith and the exploits of his players, who have earned many plaudits this season.

"They’ve been fantastic, for me, this season," the Northern Irishman said. "Because of the nature of how they came up, you’re always chasing it a little bit when it’s through the play-offs.

"They got new players in and there was a lot that Dean had to deal with last season, but they got over the line, stayed up, and that gave them the summer to then really invest in the squad and stabilise.

"They brought in very good players. The goalkeeper’s come in and really given them that security. Ross Barkley’s a fantastic player. Jack Grealish is one of the top players at this level.

"He’s such an outstanding talent and he’s one that makes everyone else better. They’ve got Ollie Watkins coming in and Matty Cash, two boys who have shown hunger to succeed at the highest level.

"That really can spread through the group, so I think when you’re playing one game a week, you can prepare, get ready and they come into every game and, in the main, play very well.

"Earlier on in the season, we had a really tight game against them. They got the goal towards the end, but they’ve shown that they’re a real team of quality and we’ll look forward to a good game."

The game will also see two of English football's most exciting talents and close friends - James Maddison and Jack Grealish - once again go head-to-head in the Premier League.

Rodgers pointed to the array of young English players emerging at the top level of the game and highlighted some of the traits which sets them apart from their peers.

"They’re both very talented players," the 48-year-old explained. "You have other players, like Mason Mount, who’s a top young talent. There’s a number of others.

"I can see James here, his growth and development, and in his next couple of years, he’s only going to get better, once he has played and had more experience at this level. He’s very new to the Premier League, only these last couple of seasons, but I know what a special player he is.

"I really first came across Jack when he played for Aston Villa in the semi-final against my Liverpool team and he was sensational in that game.

"I thought after that game: ‘This boy’s got a big, big talent.’ When I look at him, in his mid-20s, he’s a real special player. He has everything, how he takes the ball, how he can run with the ball and create and score goals, his weight of pass… he’s a big talent.

"There’s a generation now of young English players that are really gifted. Phil Foden, again, is another special talent, but he’s even younger. They’re very blessed with players of top-level technique and their understanding of the game is getting better all the time.

"Are they coachable? That’s the key. You can only manage and coach what the players want to learn. I don’t know Jack Grealish, but I can see his development.

"That lets me see that he probably wants to be the best player that he can be. I know James Maddison very well and I know that’s what he wants to be.

"You can help them and support them and encourage them, but they have to want to do it. The responsibility is with them and that’s where you get consistency from.

"That’s because they want to learn, they want to be on it, they want to develop. They can achieve what it is they want to achieve, but they have to want to do it.

"Us as coaches and management will provide the environment for them to be the best they can."

City are now unbeaten in 10 games away from home, following Thursday's 0-0 stalemate in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League Round of 32 tie against Czech champions Slavia Prague.

They have also secured more Premier League away victories (eight) than they did across the entirety of 2019/20 - the result of fusing a desire to attack with organised defensive play, Rodgers says.

"I always think, whether the stadiums are empty or full, it’s about winning the game," he added. "The players have performed at a really high level and consistently.

"In other games, where we haven’t maybe played quite to our level, we’ve shown a brilliant mindset and a toughness and a spirit within our team. That will get you through games. We always want to play attacking, creative football, but we also know that we have to, fundamentally, defend well.

"Over the course of the season so far, we’ve been able to do that.

"Whichever shape or system we’ve played, we’ve been able to defend well, so we have to do the same on Sunday, but we’ll look forward to that challenge and test."

LATEST HEADLINES

Ricardo Pereira To Leave Leicester City At End Of Season Leicester City captain Ricardo Pereira will play his final match for us on Saturday 2 May, bringing to an end a Foxes career spanning eight seasons and over 200 matches.

4 Hours 11 Mins Ago

LCFC Women vs. Chelsea - Tickets & Coverage Details Tickets for our final home game of the Barclays Women's Super League season are still available for Sunday afternoon, when we welcome Chelsea to King Power Stadium.

9 Hours 10 Mins Ago

Passmoor's Squad Update Ahead Of Chelsea Women Rick Passmoor shared a squad update with the media heading into our final home game of the season this Sunday afternoon against Chelsea (2:30pm BST kick-off).

9 Hours 10 Mins Ago

We're Really Disappointed, Says Neville Frustrated to concede seven to Arsenal in midweek, Ashleigh Neville believes this LCFC Women team has what it takes to win the play-off game and stay in the division.

12 Hours 10 Mins Ago