CENGIZ KEY TO HELP GET CITY THROUGH A TIGHT DEFENCE
RODGERS BACKING YOUNG TURK TO HELP THE FOXES OVERCOME OPPOSITION WHO SIT DEEP
CENGIZ Under provides Leicester City with something new – and it could prevent more frustrating defeats like Sunday’s surprise loss to West Ham, writes Jordan Blackwell.
As a second-half substitute, winger Under made his first appearance since joining on loan from Roma at the weekend, when the Hammers shut down City’s attack with a deep, organised back-line.
City boss Brendan Rodgers believes that once he has adapted to life in England, Under will be the man to penetrate those defensive walls and ensure his side don’t come unstuck again.
“I think it’s going to take him a bit of time to get up to speed, but you can see he wants to take the ball,” said Rodgers after the 23-year-old’s debut.
“He gives us that option from the right-hand side as a left-footed player cutting in, where he can be more direct and make those passes.
“There’s going to be an adaptation period for him, and obviously he needs to get fitter.
“But he’s got quality, we’ve seen that in training. Once he gets up to speed physically, he’ll be an asset for us, especially in those types of games, whenever teams are sat in deep and they’re sunk into their formation.
“We need players who can play in between those lines with high-level technique, so he’ll help us in that.”
Breaking down defences is not the only matter City need to work on over the international break. They also need to tighten up at the back early on.
They have now conceded inside the opening 15 minutes in three of their four Premier League fixtures, and it’s a concern for Rodgers, who thought it was a problem the team had overcome.
“I think there are a number of items defensively we need to improve, including our lack of aggression,” he said.
“It’s that mentality to not concede, to get up to people, to get in contention with people, so I’d agree, it was not a good start for us (against West Ham), and it’s something that has crept back into our game.
“It’s certainly something I’d felt we’d eradicated.”
BIG FUTURE: Cengiz Under came on as a second-half substitute on Sunday