Matchday With The Manager - Building From The Basics
The King Power Centre at LCFC Training Ground was the venue for the manager’s press conference this week, as he outlined his pre-match thoughts ahead of the 3pm GMT kick-off on Filbert Way….
Assessing recent results
With four straight defeats behind them, including last weekend’s 1-0 reverse at Southampton, the Foxes must now look forward, Rodgers says, in order to steer themselves back onto the right path.
The Northern Irishman began: “In the Southampton game, the result was very disappointing for us but there were lots of elements of the performance that were okay - the work ethic of the team, the togetherness of the team.
“If you analyse the performance, overall, it wasn’t too bad. We started the game very well and then gave away a disappointing goal. We had a five or six-minute spell where, after the penalty, then they score a goal we’re disappointed with.
“We created opportunities, but we just didn’t score. And this level, if you don’t take the opportunities, then for those few moments in the game when we concede, that’s what cost us.
“The reaction was there. I can’t fault the players in the effort and commitment that they gave. Sometimes we don’t quite find the quality to finish - that’s the disappointment when you have clear chances to score and don’t take them.
“There’s been games where we haven’t been intense enough or played with enough intensity. That’s different, but the basics of this game were good. I was disappointed for them because they didn’t deserve to lose the game.
“It’s something going forward that we’ve got to build on and then add the quality to it. I’ve always said, I believe in the players, I believe in our work.”
Chelsea’s upturn
The next contest is a daunting one, coming up against Graham Potter’s resurgent Chelsea side, who picked up an important victory of their own last time out in the Premier League, beating Leeds United to secure a first win in seven.
The Blues also visit King Power Stadium boosted by sealing their place in the UEFA Champions League's last-eight this midweek, overcoming Borussia Dortmund at Stamford Bridge.
“From Graham’s perspective, he’s new in there,” the former Chelsea youth coach explained. “It’s a difficult challenge currently with how many players he has - 30-odd players, that’s a real challenge to keep them all happy. They’ve got some wonderful players, he’s an excellent coach, it’s just time.
“The club have gone through a lot of change with ownership and personnel behind the scenes. The trouble sometimes when you’re at the top clubs is that you may not get the time. But I think he is very much deserving of that.
“The last couple of results have steadied things. They want to go and progress in the Champions League, but when you bring in so many players, with so many structural changes, it takes time for everything to stabilise and settle.
“You have to respect the level of quality that they have in the squad and the depth of their squad, which is huge. But we’re there to fight for the points. Every game is important for us. When that connection between our players and supporters is strong, that’s when we’re at our best.”
Coming through adversity
Leicester’s start to the campaign was far from ideal and parallels can be drawn to the current situation that the team finds itself in. Although with just 13 games to go, there is a clearer urgency to pick up more points between now and the end of May.
The 50-year-old continued: “Recent form hasn’t been so good at all and our form over the course of the season hasn’t been good enough to take us away from the position we’ve been in. Consistency has been a problem for us.
“We’ve had disruptions with various injuries. It’s a squad we’ve seen, from when we’ve had the January signings in, can play to a good level. That’s always the challenge, that consistency.
“We, along with a host of other teams, are in a position where we are fighting. We have to be clear on that. However, I have enough faith and confidence that we have enough quality to come through it and you do your talking on the pitch.
“I think this season we’re a group and a team who have had adverse moments and come out the other side. At this moment in time, it’s about really concentrating on and reiterating the basics of our game. I can only focus on our performance level.
“We’ve been here together now four years, four really memorable years, and of course it’s been a challenge this season. But we’ve always been about togetherness here on and off the pitch and then we can produce some great performance and results. I always enjoy the challenge - and it's a difficult challenge this year.
“The players are very much together. We’ve been able to have a good training week and look to take that into this game. We’ve got a massive job to do between now and the summer in these next number of games to finish the season strongly if we can.
“We have to now focus on the next game and make sure we’re bringing the best into each and every game. We’ve shown when we work consistently well and have that belief, if we can cut out mistakes, we'll gain the points that we need.”