RODGERS HAS NO FEAR OVER FALTERING FOXES

BRENDAN RODGERS insists he is not worried by the chasing pack in Leicester’s faltering bid to qualify for the Champions League. The Foxes, third in the Premier League, have drawn against relegation battlers Watford and Brighton since the competition resumed. Fourth-place Chelsea have moved to within a point and Manchester United and Wolves are just five further adrift. Rodgers said: ‘Those teams have picked up results since they’ve come back and we’ve had two draws, so not ideal. But whatever way you want to spin it, we are in the position through ourselves. We are third in the league, in a great position. We have shown right up until 31 games we are worthy of being where we are. ‘All the teams we have yet to play in the league we have beaten, apart from Manchester United. We will look to go into these games and get back to our level of performance, get that intensity back.’ Leicester host Chelsea tomorrow in the delayed quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Rodgers, formerly reserve team boss at Stamford Bridge, has not beaten his old club in 14 attempts since becoming a senior manager and the club have never beaten Chelsea in any of their eight FA Cup meetings. Rodgers said: ‘I’ve never beaten Chelsea with all the teams I’ve been involved with. You just sometimes get that record but I am the eternal optimist. I will always believe you get the opportunity at some point.’ Rodgers has midfielder Dennis Praet available after a calf problem, but Chelsea are again set to be without defender Fikayo Tomori, recovering from a muscle injury, and forward Callum Hudson-Odoi, who is back in training. And Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has warned his stars they still face a fight for a topfour Premier League finish despite their 2-1 win over Manchester City on Thursday. ‘We’re in a battle here,’ said Lampard. ‘It’s a nice result that will give us confidence but the consistency that we produce to the end of the season is what will define us this year. I’m not getting carried away. We can get better.’