Rodgers: A Game I'm Really Looking Forward To
- Leicester City are the visitors to Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday (4:30pm BST kick-off)
- Brendan Rodgers has spoken with respect about Frank Lampard's work in the capital
- The Foxes overcame the Blues at Stamford Bridge last season
- Live coverage of the match will be available on LCFC Radio from 1:30pm BST
While the west London outfit are yet to win a competitive fixture, Lampard's men have impressed in periods during defeats by Manchester United and Liverpool earlier this month.
The Foxes, meanwhile, opened their 2019/20 Premier League campaign with a 0-0 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers and will take confidence from their 1-0 win at Chelsea last term.
Speaking ahead of the encounter in the capital this weekend, Rodgers noted several aspects of Chelsea's play which have stood out: "I think Frank’s done very well since he’s gone in.
Rodgers: The Group Relishes The Big Games
Manager Brendan Rodgers speaks to the national media ahead of Leicester City's trip to Chelsea this Sunday.
"You can’t forget that this is team that finished third last season and won the Europa League, so it tells you everything about the talent that’s in the squad, but I think Frank’s perfect for it.
"Him and Jody [Morris] and young Joe Edwards, who around the first team, they have been there, they understand the fabric of Chelsea, they understand what it’s about and I’ve been really impressed.
"Watching the team, okay, they’ve lost a couple of games, but their tempo in their game is good. They’re obviously going to play at a higher intensity, higher tempo in the game.
"Frank understands the policy at the club, understands how it works, and he’ll be looking to bring in some of the young players, which he has done.
"He’s given them an opportunity, which you have to admire because that’s always been the case around Chelsea.
"They’ve got a wonderful academy there, full of really talented players, and they have developed those over many, many years.
"Maybe they haven’t – for whatever reason – got the opportunity, but Frank’s now there with Jody and Joe, like I say, and will give them that chance to flourish.
"Then they’re always going to have top-class players around that. So they’re a good side – very good side – they’ll looking to challenge at the top of the table and they’ll be a difficult game for us."
Rodgers accepts Sunday's clash could be an emotional affair for the home side, as Lampard manages the Blues for the first time at Stamford Bridge, where he won three titles as a player.
"Listen, the season’s up and running, I’m sure he’s been looking forward to that first game, so for us, we know it’s going to be a tough game," the Northern Irishman continued.
"We’re a team that have gone there in the last couple of seasons and done very well and we have a group of players that relish the big games.
"This is a game that I’m really looking forward to, building on how we played last weekend, and like I say, I think it should be a really, really good football game.
"I think in my time in here, in the big games, the players have played very, very well. They’ve won some and gone close in one or two of the others, but for us it’s just making another step.
"We know it’s a difficult game, they’ve got top-class players at Chelsea, they’ve shown that, and they’re a team that want to be up there fighting at the very top of the league this season.
"For us, it’s a case of going there and bringing our true game and, like I say, it should be a very good football game."