FORGET FA CUP ...THAT’S FINAL

Securing top-four spot is Rodgers’ priority

LEICESTER boss Brendan Rodgers has told his players to forget their big FA Cup final date with Chelsea.

The Foxes are looking for a grandstand finish to clinch the Champions League spot that slipped from their grasp last season. Rodgers’ men were pipped for fourth on the last day after a weak run-in saw them take just seven points from their last seven games. The City manager is desperate to avoid a repeat and reveals that he refuses to listen to any negative outside noise about another wobble, as he prepares for tonight’s visit of Newcastle.

Rodgers (left) said: “I don’t listen so much. It’s a bit of an old cliche but we will be where we will be come the end. It’s a tough run of games starting with Newcastle, but it’s a tough run of games for others as well.

“The FA Cup final is not on our radar at the moment.

“We’ve already beaten the number of points we got last season. It’s going to be tight right to the end. It’s all about winning games.

“We’re in the top four and in the FA Cup final – we’d have taken that before the start of the season. It’s an exciting end.”

Rodgers said the Foxes will now customise tailor-made training and preparation for the players on the crucial run-in with the emphasis on keeping them fresh for games.

The former Liverpool and Cetic boss added: “We’ll need to reach the peak at our next game. That’s the idea. We’ve got to the cup final, but we always prepare for every game being a big game. When you prepare that way, it means there is not such a big gap. And you don’t have to go to any more levels.

“Of course, there will always be nerves and anxiety around the final. But you always want to bring your best into every game.

“That’s the nature of the big teams, the big clubs. They have the big mentalities. You can’t just turn it on and off.

“You have to prepare every day. Now we’re going into the Newcastle match, which is a massive game for us, as Manchester United will be, as will the cup final.”

LEICESTER: Schmeichel, Fofana, Evans, Soyuncu, Ricardo, Ndidi, Tielemans, Castagne, Maddison, Iheanacho, Vardy

NEWCASTLE: Dubravka, Murphy, Fernandez, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Willock, Shelvey, Almiron, Saint-maximin, Wilson

REFEREE: Darren England