EUR FACING BIG FIGHT TO KEEP JAMES, FOXES
BRENDAN RODGERS admits Leicester risk losing stars like James Maddison this summer because they will not be playing European football next term.
The 1-0 defeats at Jose Mourinho’s Roma on Thursday deprived them of a place in the Europa Conference League final. That was their last chance to qualify for Europe.
It will be the first campaign since 2019-20 that last term’s FA Cup winners have not been in Europe, after finishing fifth the previous two seasons. And while Mourinho shed tears of joy at the final whistle, Leicester’s stars sunk to the turf in despair at the Stadio Olimpico.
Asked if he could now lose top talent such as Maddison (above) because Leicester are not in Europe next term, Foxes boss Rodgers (below) said: “I don’t know.
“Certainly a lot of the players will have felt the joy and experience of nights in Europe. You see how good James
Maddison has been over the two legs. He is a player with personality and quality.
“He deserves that opportunity. Hopefully the players will go away and feel the motivation from being in
Europe and then we can really fight to be in a European position next season. It is about going into next season with that feeling, but that is easier said than done.
“What the last couple of seasons in Europe has done has given the players lots of experience. This was our 22nd game in Europe since I have come in. Those 22 appearances will help the young players.”
Leicester started off in the Europa League but finished third in Group C to end up in the inaugural Conference League.
As the competition wore on, Rodgers prioritised Europe and rested players in the Premier League as his squad has been stretched by injuries this term.
But now his focus is on Leicester’s remaining five Premier League games, starting with the visit of relegation strugglers Everton to the King Power tomorrow. The two teams drew 1-1 at Goodison less than three weeks ago. And Rodgers confirmed he is planning a summer rebuild, adding: “If you are going to compete in the Premier League then you need that depth of squad.
“You always need a freshness and a new hunger and quality inthe team, hopefully we can add that.
“Unfortunately for us this season the injuries haves hurt us but we will come back next year and rebuild with stronger depth to the squad and continue on that quest to disrupt the top clubs.”