Rodgers: You Have To Play Who's In Front Of You

First Team
22 Sep 2020
2 Minutes
Brendan Rodgers says the stature of opposition in Wednesday's Carabao Cup Third Round tie against Arsenal at King Power Stadium presents a challenge which excites his Leicester City side.

- Leicester City host Arsenal in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday (7:45pm kick-off)
- The Foxes reached the semi-finals of the competitions last season
- Manager Brendan Rodgers says he may make changes to his starting XI for the tie
- The Northern Irishman discussed the desire of the side to progress after last term's semi-final defeat

The Gunners visit Filbert Way after securing two wins from their opening Premier League fixtures, like the Foxes, who have overcome West Bromwich Albion and Burnley.

Wednesday's encounter marks the beginning of a busy schedule for City right up to and including the festive period, where two-game weeks are likely to become a normality.

Speaking ahead of that clash with Mikel Arteta's Gunners, Rodgers offered an early insight into his thinking as preparations continue for the Club's third competitive game of 2020/21.

"Because of the limited number of games that we've had and training time we've had, I'm going to have to make a number of changes," the Northern Irishman told LCFC TV.

"We're going to rely on the squad this year and I need to get some players some game time and up to speed. The idea will be to go out and win the game and we'll put a team out to do that."

Despite being paired with another side to enter the competition late due to their European involvement, Rodgers believes any side would pose a difficult challenge in the Carabao Cup.

The winners on Wednesday, meanwhile, will face a trip to either Sky Bet League 1 side Lincoln City or Premier League champions Liverpool in the fourth round later this month.

"It doesn't matter," he continued. "I think, however you want to progress, you have to play, you know, Championship teams, League 1 teams, it doesn't matter.

"You just have to play who's in front of you. So, yes, we'll look forward to the game."

After missing out on a final in the competition last season, the Foxes manager also reiterated the importance of his young squad learning from that experience over seasons to come.

"I think that was disappointing for us because I thought, over the two games, we were the better team, but we didn't qualify, so that was a competition that hurt us last year," he explained.

"But you have to feel that pain in order to improve and progress, so it's a game that we'll give everything [in] to get into the next round."

All times BST.