Taggart: Time To Look Forward

- Gerry Taggart points towards Leicester City’s upcoming 2020/21 season as a period of excitement for the Football Club
- The former City defender provided his opinions on the 2019/20 campaign while speaking to LCFC TV
- Taggart highlighted the strengths of several of Leicester’s stars

For the fifth time in their history, City will contest a European campaign following their qualification for the UEFA Europa League, while also embarking upon a seventh-straight term in the Premier League.

While speaking to LCFC TV during the summer break, Taggart reflected on the 2019/20 season, outlining who he felt impressed for Brendan Rodgers’ outfit after they secured a fifth-place finish in England’s top flight.

“I think overall, you have to say it’s been a really successful season,” Taggart said. “Brendan set out what he wanted to do before the season started and he’s achieved that, and so he deserves a lot of plaudits.

“Obviously, there will be some disappointment, but no more disappointment with the players and the staff themselves. These things happen in football and it shows that the ‘top four’ got their act together, but Leicester just couldn’t get that momentum going after beating Aston Villa 4-0 in March.

“It’s a shame, and a lot of people will be disappointed, but as I say, no more disappointed than the players and the staff themselves.

“It’s gone now and it’s time to look forward, analyse the season and for the players to gain from the experiences they’ve had over the season just gone – the strange scenario that they’ve all been through. With next year, it’s going to be another exciting period.”

Taggart says manager Rodgers will be applauded for achieving a top-six berth in the Premier League, and knows his fellow countryman will again be laying out his targets for the upcoming 2020/21 season.

He said: “That statement [of targets] was made a long time ago now, almost a year, probably, as we’re speaking now. It’s very important for people to put that into perspective. In football, sometimes you make mistakes and it’s all about learning from those experiences.

“Hopefully, that’s what will happen. Moving forward into next season, Brendan Rodgers will have a target that he’ll be looking to aim for. What that target is, who knows yet? But, if he comes out and tells us, we need to give him all the backing he can to make sure they give themselves the best opportunity of reaching that target.”

Another Northern Irishman, Jonny Evans, delivered consistently during 2019/20, according to Taggart, who also selected several City stars that stood out throughout an enthralling campaign that delivered many memorable moments.

Taggart said: “You have to look at the backbone of the team. I think Kasper [Schmeichel] has had a fantastic season. With Jonny Evans and Çağlar Söyüncü, Çağlar has just burst onto the scene and Jonny has used all of that experience to guide him through. He’s had a fantastic season.

“Then, you’ve got Wilfred Ndidi in the centre and again, he’s had a fantastic season. Then, of course, up top, you’ve got the ever-youthful Jamie Vardy, who just cannot stop scoring. Then, you’ve got other performances along with that.

“A massive miss has been Ricardo [Pereira] and his injury. Ben Chilwell has been sorely missed, as has James Maddison in that attacking half of the pitch. When you’re missing players like that, that will detract from what you’re trying to do.”