‘TODAY’S PAIN WILL GIVE WAY TO EUROPA EXCITEMENT!’

RODGERS REFLECTS ON A GOOD SEASON THAT JUST FELL SHORT

THE pain and disappointment of missing out on the Champions League will eventually make way for excitement over a Europa League campaign, Brendan Rodgers said after Leicester City finished the season in fifth. A 14-point cushion was eradicated in the second half of the campaign and City finished four points shy of the Champions League spots after a finalday defeat to Manchester United. But the consolation prize after that 18-point swing is a place in the Europa League – and Rodgers said he is looking forward to it. “We finished in the second highest position in Premier League history for this club and that takes us into European competition, and I’m really excited by that,” he said. “It’s that next step for this squad of players. The boys have had a good season. “Those experiences, with that level of competition, and with playing in midweek, will make us more robust. I’m excited by that, and we’ll look to have a great experience in it.” It could have been more for City after a solid performance in the first hour at the King Power Stadium. But Rodgers’ plan, hoping his defensive setup would see City through to the second drinks break unscathed before going all out, was not quite perfected, with Bruno Fernandes scoring a penalty following sloppy play from Hamza Choudhury. But given the performance, especially of those players who came in for the injured stars who would have played, the manager was full of pride. “We’re disappointed,” Rodgers said. “The plan for the game was going really well. We knew we had to be deeper but we didn’t have too many scares in the first half and we had some good moments. “The second half, we start well, but we give the ball away and they get the penalty. It becomes difficult. Our plan was to get through to the final drinks break and then push, but we conceded the goal just before that moment. “The quality at the top end of the league is really high, and we have competed with that, but we’re short of that. “I look at James Justin and his performance. He lost his father a few months ago, he’s come in from League One, and he’s played in three different positions. He was outstanding today. We need mentality like that. “Young Luke Thomas coming in for these final few games. Wes Morgan too. I can’t fault the spirit. Next year it’s about ambition.”