Rodgers urges Leicester to write their own history

BRENDAN RODGERS has challenged his Leicester City players to “write their own history” as they attempt to secure a return to the Champions League stage.

Leicester are on course to cement their place in European competition next season, holding an eight-point lead over fifth-placed Manchester United with eight games left. Rodgers also faces Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-final this weekend as Leicester attempt to reach the last four for the first time since 1982.

Claudio Ranieri guided Leicester to the biggest achievement in their 136-year history with the Premier League title in 2016, but Rodgers is urging his squad to write their own names into the club’s record books.

He said: “You can never beat that feeling of what happened a few years ago and that will always be the greatest story in the history of Leicester City. But we can still write our own history, and I’ve told the players that.

“That is what we’ve been trying to do since we’ve been in here, creating records, and we’ve got an unbelievable opportunity this year to go and do it again. We’ll never beat that story back in 2016 but if we can keep getting better year on year, and reach a cup final, then there is a really exciting period ahead of us.

“We’re not getting too far ahead of ourselves, by talking about winning a cup, and we’ve got to finish the job. We can’t suffocate ourselves with the pressure.”

Leicester host Brighton tonight, and could strengthen their position in third place with a victory. Brighton are five points above the drop zone but Rodgers has warned his players not to underestimate any opponent.

“The mentality here is that every game is big. The mistake you make is when you think some games are easier than others – the big mentality is knowing that every game can trip you up,” he said. “That is the mindset, if you’re a big team and playing well everyone wants to beat you.”

Leicester City v Brighton, Live, Sky Sports, 6.0