Rodgers’ Defensive Pride

- Brendan Rodgers heaps praise on Leicester City’s defensive play after they beat Zorya Luhansk 3-0 on Thursday
- The Foxes began their UEFA Europa League campaign with a success at Leicester City Stadium
- Rodgers felt City coped well with Zorya’s diamond system  

The Foxes opened their Group G campaign with a deserved 3-0 success over the Ukrainian outfit at Leicester City Stadium, where James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Kelechi Iheanacho were among the goals.

It could have been a different result had Kasper Schmeichel not saved from Vladlen Yurchenko, but after that effort, City grew into the game and delivered a commanding performance to secure three points.

At full-time, Rodgers told LCFC TV: “A clean sheet was important for us. Fundamentally, that's your base. And so, I thought defensively we had to work very, very hard against a good team.

“So yes, I thought we played very well in spells of the game, scored good goals, and their system really tests you. I thought Harvey's goal was a great individual effort and showed great composure.

“Madders (James Maddison) being up there and wanting to score was terrific and our pressure for the third goal was really good and Kelechi, he slots it away really well.

“So, very pleasing, we can be better in areas, but like I say, to start with a win in the group was important.”

The result proved to be the Foxes’ biggest home win in European competition, and Rodgers has tipped his side to improve their potency in front of goal in the coming weeks.

“It's nice for the players to feel that and like I say, we can be better,” he said. “We can have greater movement at the top of the field in order to create even more chances.

“But we were good in our tactical idea because we changed in the second half to play a diamond to sort of kill their threat once we're 2-0 up, but also still give us that real threat going forward.

“So, I thought the players managed that side of it really well.”