I'm an OPTIMIST not a FANTASIST
RODGERS INSISTS HE IS NOT ‘DELUSIONAL’ IN EXPECTING TO WIN TROPHIES WITH FOXES
BRENDAN RODGERS has returned to the Premier League with a taste for silverware and insists he isn’t “deluded” to aim for more at Leicester.
Rodgers walked away from Scottish giants Celtic after back-to-back Trebles and the likelihood of a third.
He joins the Foxes with the 2016 champions languishing in 11th, despite beating Brighton under caretaker Mike Stowell on Tuesday, when Rodgers was in the stands.
His first game in charge will be tomorrow at Watford and Rodgers, 46, is focused on delivering glory.
Claude Puel’s successor said: “I’ve gone to Celtic to win, and when you win, you want to win more. That’s our ambition.
“Now the expectation is to challenge for a European place and look to win a trophy.
“I always wanted to come back to the Premier League. I had a great spell with Swansea and loved my time at Liverpool.
“This is now another opportunity for me and I’ll be committed and positive as I’ve always been.
“In general life, people will say because you’re positive, you might be deluded. But I’ve always been optimistic in my coaching life and the experiences have been great for me.”
After Leicester famously won the title, they reached the Champions League quarter-finals and came 12th the following campaign.
Last term, they finished ninth and are now 11th in mid-table, but Rodgers wants to re-establish the club in the race for honours after claiming complacency had crept in.
He said: “You win the league then, at the end of the season, you go on a world tour. You travel around the world and it’s great and everyone’s lording you because of what you’ve done. “Then you travel to Hull next season and you lose 2-1 in your first game. Then, after nine or 10 games, everyone’s wondering, ‘What’s happening here?’ “But it’s very simple – there’s a little bit of complacency. And I don’t think it’s intentional.
“What happens is, you don’t quite run the same. Where you pressed for 10 metres, you’re now only pressing for eight. It’s just gradual, so the last couple of years have been difficult because of that.
“But now it’s the chance to press the reset button and come in with a clear vision.”
Rodgers intends to keep Leicester’s passing game but wants to add more intensity – especially to their pressing.
His decision to quit Celtic has infuriated fans, who have abused their old boss online and with banners. But Rodgers insists he leaves the Bhoys in a great position for more success.
He also feels he left strong foundations at Liverpool, where he was axed in October 2015, after narrowly missing out on the title in 2014, when they came second.
Rodgers added: “It was a tough end for us, but what I hope I provided was talent.
“We went close to the title and then we lost Luis Suarez (left) – it was difficult for us.
“But Raheem Sterling did OK and Philippe Coutinho has done all right, and Luis did OK in the two years.
“When you leave a club, it’s either through success or because they want a change.
“I obviously left when they wanted a change and Jurgen Klopp’s come in and done a fantastic job. I did my best and that was all I could do.”