We Earned The Right To Play, Says Rodgers

- Brendan Rodgers expressed his pride after Leicester City beat Crystal Palace 2-0 in the Premier League
- Çağlar Söyüncü and Jamie Vardy both scored after the interval for the Foxes
- City reclaimed third position in the Premier League table thanks to the triumph

A goalless first period was followed up by Çağlar Söyüncü’s first Foxes goal and a 10th Premier League strike of the season for Jamie Vardy.

Reflecting on the win, Rodgers felt City’s hard work in the opening 45 minutes provided them with a foundation to go on and claim all three points in London.

“I take real pride in watching the game today because this is a really difficult place to come,” Rodgers told LCFC TV. “Crystal Palace have showed in Roy’s time how well organised they are and what a threat they are in counter-attacks.

“Really, we didn’t have too many counter-attacks against us today and we defended really strongly with a good focus. We always looked creative going forward.

“There were times where we could have been better with the ball and a little bit faster at times, but I always felt that we could control the game.

“Coming to Crystal Palace, it’s always about staying strong defensively, controlling the counter-attack and then waiting for your opportunities and when they came, we took them.

“What you need in your team at tough places like here is spirit and we have that in bucket loads. The spirit here is very strong, the team has got good momentum and we want to keep that momentum going.

“You do that by fighting, by scrapping, and then earning the right to play, and we did that today.”

City’s defensive solidity, combined with their ruthlessness going forward, has seen them score 27 goals and concede just eight in the Premier League this campaign.

“At this level, you need two top centre-halves to start with, and a goalkeeper, and we have that,” Rodgers continued. “We’ve got an outstanding goalkeeper, who’s one of the best in European football, and we’ve got two centre-halves – one that is a top player, and another one that is on his way to being a very good player.

“That gives you stability in the team, but then to defend, it’s about all 11 players and how they press and how they protect the game.

“Like I say, this is a team that is very dangerous in the transition where they turn over the ball and they break away quickly, but we never really gave them any opportunities.

“It gives me as much pride to come here and win 2-0 knowing how tough it is and the mental attitude that you need to come and win, and also, as I said, as equal as winning 9-0 last week.”