Rodgers bans talk of Europe

BOSS BANS ALL TALK OF EUROPE AS HE URGES HIS PLAYERS TO CONCENTRATE ON JOB IN HAND

BRENDAN Rodgers has banned talk of Champions League qualification at Leicester City, even though they could secure their place in the competition tomorrow, writes Jordan Blackwell.

And he warned his side would slip up if they chose to focus on their European hopes, rather than the game.

If City beat Bournemouth on Sunday and Wolves, Sheffield United and Arsenal all fail to win, Rodgers’ men will be guaranteed to finish at least fifth in the Premier League table.

Ahead of the result of Manchester City’s hearing at the Court of Arbitration

for Sport, fifth spot in the Premier League earns a place at Europe’s top table.

But ahead of the trip to the Vitality Stadium, a place where City are yet to win in the Premier League, Rodgers will not be discussing the possibility of Champions League qualification with his players.

“The destiny is with us, we’ll decide where we finish, but for us, the concentration and the focus is on the game itself,” Rodgers said.

“I’ve said to the players that if we’re defining focus, if you’re thinking about the Champions League or you’re thinking about what else is at stake, then you’ve lost your focus.

You’ve got to focus on your performance, the game, how you’re going to play, how you’re going to work, and the consequence for us has always been gaining points.

“It’s your job in the media to look at the permutations and I respect that, but I need to be focused on the game and the performance, which I am.

“Hopefully we get there.”

A place in the Champions League may seem like the ideal incentive to help the City players clinch a first Premier League victory at a ground where they’ve previously drawn two and lost two.

That’s not how Rodgers sees it.

He said: “No (it won’t be used as motivation). I can’t forecast what the other teams will do.

“If we do it, then we can talk about it for sure. It would be amazing.

“But until that point, there will be other strategies we can use to gain that motivation. We have to really concentrate, especially at the moment.”

While City head to Bournemouth, Sheffield United host Chelsea, Wolves welcome Everton to Molineux, and Arsenal head to Spurs for the North London derby. All three matches take place before City kick off against the Cherries tomorrow.