We’re Taking Intensity Up A Notch, Says Rodgers

- Leicester City’s intensity and fitness are improving during pre-season, says manager Brendan Rodgers
- The Foxes registered a 3-0 victory on Tuesday against Cambridge United at Abbey Stadium
- City have won all three of their pre-season games this summer

On Tuesday night, the Foxes recorded a 3-0 triumph over Cambridge United to add to their wins against Scunthorpe United and Cheltenham Town.

At Abbey Stadium, while City couldn’t create an opener in the first half, goals from Harry Maguire, Kelechi Iheanacho and Hamza Choudhury resulted in another positive outing for Rodgers’ men.

“I thought it was a very good exercise for us,” said the manager. “I said to the players the other day that the first three weeks were really about building the fitness and getting some football fitness into their legs.

“I thought these next three weeks really are about the strategy in the game and looking at the details and of course, playing with intensity. You saw tonight that intensity just crept up again another notch to where we want to go, so I was very pleased with both teams that were playing.

“The young guys that have come back, the Under-21s, they showed their quality this evening and since they’ve come back. I was really pleased, and always, a clean sheet is always important, just to create that mindset in pre-season, so it was very good.”

City’s high pressing produced a third goal in Cambridgeshire, as Academy graduate Choudhury benefitted from his side’s pressure in the hosts’ half.

“The purpose behind it is to create as many chances as you can,” said Rodgers. “I was happier tonight with the creativity.

“If you press the ball high up the pitch and you win it back, you get more chances to create goals and we’re here to entertain supporters and score goals. Obviously, one of the goals came from that, which was great.

“It’s something that my teams normally bring to the game. It’s that intensity to press. You can’t go on your own, so you get in in waves of pressure – one, two or three waves.

“If you can either win the ball back, great, if not, the team plays it long up the pitch and then you have the ball again and your job is to then create.”