Matchday With The Manager: West Ham's Threat, Vardy's Willpower & Barnes' Potential

Next Match | Saturday 2 May Sat 2 May

BLB

(A)

04 D

11 H

21 M

58 S

Interviews & Features

Heritage

Photos

Matchday With The Manager: West Ham's Threat, Vardy's Willpower & Barnes' Potential

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has pointed to several of the threats West Ham United have at their disposal ahead of Monday's Premier League encounter at London Stadium.

2021-08-23T06:00:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager: West Ham's Threat, Vardy's Willpower & Barnes' Potential

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has pointed to several of the threats West Ham United have at their disposal ahead of Monday's Premier League encounter at London Stadium.

2021-08-23T06:00:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager: West Ham's Threat, Vardy's Willpower & Barnes' Potential

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has pointed to several of the threats West Ham United have at their disposal ahead of Monday's Premier League encounter at London Stadium.

2021-08-23T06:00:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager: West Ham's Threat, Vardy's Willpower & Barnes' Potential

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has pointed to several of the threats West Ham United have at their disposal ahead of Monday's Premier League encounter at London Stadium.

2021-08-23T06:00:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager: West Ham's Threat, Vardy's Willpower & Barnes' Potential

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has pointed to several of the threats West Ham United have at their disposal ahead of Monday's Premier League encounter at London Stadium.

2021-08-23T06:00:00.000Z

Both sides begun their 2021/22 campaigns with victories on the opening weekend and will be looking to match, or better, impressive showings last term as Leicester finished fifth for the second successive season, while the Hammers were just one place below the Foxes.

Jamie Vardy's excellent effort in the 41st minute at King Power Stadium registered a 1-0 triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers last Saturday, while Aaron Cresswell, Saïd Benrahma, Tomáš Souček and Michail Antonio all found the net for the Hammers at Newcastle United.

Reflecting on City's start to their eighth consecutive year in the Premier League, Rodgers said: "It just reinforced what I already know. I thought that in the first half, you could see the maturity in the team with how we played and controlled the game. We were very composed and we scored a fantastic goal.

"In the second half, when we were under pressure at times, we showed that great spirit that the players have created over this last two-and-a-half years. We had to show resilience in the game and they ended up keeping a clean sheet with some very important blocks.

"We ended up winning the game, so all the attributes I know about the team, we had to show at the weekend against a very good side."

Rodgers was particularly impressed with the all-round performance of Vardy, the Club's all-time top Premier League goalscorer. The Northern Irishman hopes, with more scope to rest Leicester's No.9, following the signing of Patson Daka this summer, that Vardy will be able to retain more freshness this term.

"I think as you grow older, you’re always learning," the 48-year-old explained. "Tactically, he’s very good in the game, but he’s obviously developing that side. He’s still very, very fit. He was one of our top performers in our running exercises over the pre-season.

"He and one of our younger players, in his 20s, were the two top guys in terms of the running statistics. That’s physically, but of course, it’s also mental willpower. That’s something he has in abundance.

"In the last couple of seasons, at the latter end, we haven’t been able to rest him as much as what we would like at times. He hasn’t been able to be as fresh as what we would like, but you saw last weekend, when he’s fresh and when he’s running and pressing, he’s such a threat for the whole game.

"He continues to defy everyone who thinks, at that age, he’s slowing down because he’s still so dynamic and fast and such a big threat."

Monday's fixture is preluded by confirmation of a new four-year deal for Academy graduate and England international Harvey Barnes. Now adorning the Club's no.7 shirt this season, Rodgers is optimistic that Barnes will continue to grow into the player he can be over the coming campaign.

"He’s been a young player that’s been at Leicester City since he was eight," Rodgers said. "He’s obviously had wonderful support from his parents and the Club and both of those combined have always looked to develop his talent. I believe he’s going to become a really, really top player in these next few years.

"When I came in, you could see the talent, but could he score more goals with the talent that he had? If you look at his numbers, week by week, he’s starting to do that. Unfortunately, we missed him an awful lot at the tail-end of last season, but he’s come back, he’s getting fitter.

"I’m absolutely delighted that he’s re-signed. He’s enjoying it here. He’s a really clever boy who wants to learn, he’s very coachable, and he’s hungry to be the best player he can be. That’s the type of player and person you want to work with.

"If you look at him last season, the goals return he had, the assists too… the only thing that will stop him will be availability. If he can stay injury free and get that little bit of luck, then you can see his game coming together.

"I felt when I came in, he had amazing speed and power, he just needed to add goals and creativity to his game. That is about getting into the right positions. That’s what we’ve tried to do in these last couple of seasons, get him into areas where he can get in, and then when he’s in there, he can finish well.

"He didn’t arrive in those moments so much, but now he’s got that hunger. He’s had a season-and-a-half playing and he’s gaining confidence all the time. What’s great about Harvey is that he’s a very humble boy, but he never gets carried away with it. He has that humility when he’s succeeding.

"Sometimes, people only have that when they’re not doing so well, but he’s a very humble boy. His father scored many goals and played the game and he, as well, will always keep him focused. He comes in with a wonderful attitude and I just think, if he can stay clear of injury, his game’s improving all the time."

Rodgers, though, is fully aware of the nature of the challenge West Ham will pose on Monday. After the Hammers secured their best-ever Premier League points tally in 2020/21, the Leicester manager was full of praise for the work being done by David Moyes in east London.

"They’re a very good side," the former Liverpool and Celtic manager continued. "I think David’s done a fantastic job since he’s gone in there. They showed last weekend that they’re very dangerous. The front four are big talents. Michail [Antonio], who I know well, is strong and aggressive.

"He runs in behind, his movement’s good, technically he’s strong and he wants to score goals. The other boys, [Jarrod] Bowen and [Pablo] Fornals, are good players who want to get into the box and score.

"Then, they’ve got Declan Rice, who I think is a top, top player who sits in midfield and can pass and move, move the ball, so they’ve got very good players. They had a very good result, so we know we have to be at our very best to get a good result.

"You always want to sustain the success that you create. When [Moyes has] gone in there, he’s obviously had to move players out, and bring in players that fit the way he wants to work. You can clearly see now the work ethic in the team and also the quality.

"They’re a very good side, they’ve got quality going forward, but we also know we have got that in abundance, so it should be a fantastic game and we’ll look to go there and attack it."

LATEST HEADLINES

A Tough Day At The Office, Says Passmoor Despite taking the lead, LCFC Women were on the end of a 5-1 loss at London City Lionesses on Sunday afternoon, and Rick Passmoor urged his side to bounce back with a busy week ahead.

10 Hours 18 Mins Ago

Evans Scores For Northampton In Weekend’s Loan News Jake Evans scored Northampton Town’s goal in a defeat at Cardiff City in Sky Bet League One.

14 Hours 8 Mins Ago

LCFC Women Lose Out To London City LCFC Women were beaten 5-1 away by London City Lionesses in the Barclays Women's Super League on Sunday.

26 Apr, 2026

Choudhury Reflects On Millwall Draw Hamza Choudhury felt conceding late against Millwall summed up our season to some extent, following Friday’s 1-1 draw which concluded our home campaign.

26 Apr, 2026