Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DON’T HOUND MY FOXES
Rodgers tells booing fans: These players have given you so much in last couple of years... let’s stay TOGETHER
BRENDAN RODGERS has appealed to Leicester fans to get behind his side and be “for us rather than against us”.
The Foxes were booed during and after their 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea.
They have come fifth in the last two seasons, but find themselves 12th after just one point from three games.
They now face a crunch home tie with Legia Warsaw in the Europa League, needing victory to keep alive hopes of topping Group C to qualify automatically for the last 16.
Asked if he had a message for the club’s supporters, boss Rodgers said: “For me, it is about encouraging the team.
“We all understand the frustrations, but I only ask for a little perspective.
“These players have given so much in the last couple of years and given great joy to the supporters. But always we have to be together.
“The King Power Stadium is a really difficult place for teams to come and play when you have that synergy in the supporters and the team.”
Rodgers (below) added: “When the team are suffering a little bit with consistency, that encouragement will help them. That is important.
“Bring that incredible passion and support and really encourage the team. That will always give us a chance and we need them for us rather than against us.”
Leicester’s form has not been helped by long-term injuries to defenders Wesley Fofana and James Justin, while James Maddison and Harvey Barnes are struggling to replicate their best form.
It led to a frank dressing-room inquest this week at City’s training ground.
Spanish attacker Ayoze Perez (above) revealed: “There has been honest and open conversations, which is important. We know we are struggling in terms of results and performing, but we are focused on what we can change to get the results we want.
“It was a disappointing result against Chelsea, but the main thing is the mentality.
That is what we are missing from a couple of seasons ago, the mentality and resilience.”
Leicester have an ideal chance to get a morale-boosting win as second-placed
Warsaw are on a six-game losing streak in the Polish League. Perez added: “The manager is trying to make us think about the basics.
“You have to try not to overthink and overdo things.” PROBABLE LINE-UPS
LEICESTER: Schmeichel; Amartey, Evans, Soyuncu; Castagne, Ndidi, Soumare, Bertrand; Perez; Daka, Iheanacho
LEGIA WARSAW: Miszta; Jedrzejczyk, Johansson, Wieteska; Ribeiro, Slisz, Kharatin, Martins, Mladenovic; Kastrati; Emreli