Rodgers: Support Each Other During Unprecedented Period

- Brendan Rodgers underlines the importance of supporting others during the COVID-19 pandemic
- The Leicester City manager has urged people to follow the Government’s stay-at-home guidelines
- Rodgers discussed the methods of communication he has been using with his squad and staff

The Northern Irishman, in an interview with LCFC TV this week, extended his thoughts to the wider community and encouraged people to guide each other through what has been and will continue to be a hugely difficult period for everyone.

Rodgers knows there is great value in maintaining a community spirit throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and has urged others to abide by the stay-at-home guidelines set in place by the Government.

“I’ve got to say, it’s a difficult period,” Rodgers told LCFC TV. “Your mind isn’t so much on football. Of course, you’re watching football and you’re making notes and definitely analysing it, but my feeling is purely not so much what I’ve done in the year I’ve been here, but just purely on the health of people in general.

“It’s been an incredible time, an unprecedented time in our modern history, and it’s just [about] trying to come to terms with that to help people and support people.

“You see the unfortunate deaths that are occurring with this virus, so my thoughts aren’t so much towards what I’ve done in this past year, but just really trying to take onboard the guidance that we’ve been given and like I say, hopefully we can get out of this and get back to doing what we all love to do and to see.

“It’s very, very difficult, of course, because it’s so unnatural for how we are in our day-to-day lives, but there’s a reason for it and there’s a purpose for it. We’re asked to stay in and to try and have that discipline to do that, because it genuinely will help save people’s lives.

“No matter how tough it is – and it is tough, everyone recognises that – we’re very much about people and being out there, but this is very much a time to listen to the Government, listen to the guidelines that they’re giving us and really to ensure that when we come back, we’re in a much better place.

“We’ll only do that the quicker we can get over this virus. The more we self-isolate, hopefully that will allow the numbers and the cases to drop, which allows us to get back to normal life as soon as we can. Following the guidelines will be absolutely vital for that.”

Providing an insight into how he has continued his work as City manager from home, Rodgers explained the methods of communication he has been using to stay in touch with the Club’s first team players and staff.

He said: “I think the first week was new and I have to say, it is tough, because when you go from a job where you’re constant from half-past-six in the morning through to late at night, you’re always thinking about the game; football, tactics, coaching and managing – and everything else that encompasses being a manager.

“To then it virtually stopping, that can be quite tough. [There’s been] a little bit of everything. There’s a bit of home-schooling with Lola when she went off school. I’ve got to say, I wasn’t so good at some of the formulas in maths, I have to say.

“Then, [I’m] just doing some reading, looking at football and then just really trying to connect with people at the Club – players, staff and family.

“These players are absolutely first class. They’re super professional. Our Sports Science Team and Medical Team are in constant dialogue with them, sending them their individual programmes and to push them.

“As I said, they’re doing a fantastic job in ensuring that the players are getting the work done. It’ll ramp up over the course of the next three to four weeks, so that engagement is always there with them.

“Even though we’re not seeing them and they’re not working together, there’s still a lot of communication and a lot of engagement. That’s vital at this time.”

On Saturday, Leicester City Chairman, Khun Top, underlined the Club’s commitment to its local community in an open letter to supporters, and Rodgers says that is one of the key strengths of the Srivaddhanaprabha family’s ownership. 

“It’s even more apparent when you come in and work for them,” he added. “In this game of football, there are very few, but certainly, Leicester City is a club that’s very close to the heart of the community.

“The role that Top and his father have taken on since they first joined the Club, to ensure that not just the Football Club, but the community itself is supported by themselves, they’ve done that remarkably well.

“It doesn’t surprise me – the gift they’ve brought to this city has been of support made and they’re obviously looking to continue with that over the course of 2020, which is fantastic.”