I’m keeping faith with Kelechi after his penalty miss
RODGERS BACK STRIKER TO BOUNCE BACK
BRENDAN Rodgers has backed Kelechi Iheanacho to bounce back after the striker missed a penalty that he earned the right to take in an intra-squad shootout.
With Leicester City’s regular penalty takers Jamie Vardy and Youri Tielemans on the bench at Crystal Palace, it was Iheanacho who stepped up from 12 yards, the Nigerian seeing his effort saved by Vicente Guaita in the 1-1 draw.
Ayoze Perez scored a penalty for City in January, but Iheanacho got the nod over the Spaniard after winning a practice shoot-out at the new training ground the day before.
While Iheanacho finished five from five, Perez scored just four. Still, Rodgers said the spot-kick that mattered was “hesitant”.
“He’s a boy who gives everything in training and he doesn’t get too many opportunities,” Rodgers said on Iheanacho.
“He’s shown that in the Europa League where he has performed really well for us.
“Him and Ayo, because Jamie wasn’t starting, those were the two designated penalty takers, and he (Iheanacho) got five out of five penalties.
“They were great penalties, all different types, so it’s a great opportunity for him. But he just seemed a little but hesitant with it.
“Ayo scored four out of five. We know our list of penalty takers. We’ve got Jamie and Youri are normally our two in the game.
“Those two have great composure and personality in the game to take them, and then the two boys today were the designated ones also.
“He (Iheanacho) had another good chance at the near post, after a good cross from Dennis (Praet) came in. It just didn’t quite fall for him.”
However, Rodgers has sympathy for Iheanacho, who was substituted before Harvey Barnes’ equaliser earned a point for City, pointing to the difficulty of his role as a second-choice striker.
Still, the boss has faith the 24-year-old will not miss his next chance.
“It is difficult,” Rodgers said. “But I’ve seen his confidence improve in the time I’ve been here. It’s just really unfortunate for him today.
“Whether you’re a young or a senior player, and you’ve seen it with (Islam) Slimani when he’s come in, someone who has been a number one striker, it’s always difficult when you’re coming and you’re playing behind one of the world’s best strikers.
“I can only judge it on my own time here. He trains every single day, he’s come in and made an impact in games for us.
“When he’s started in the Europa League, he’s done really well.
“Today was an opportunity for him to get a goal, and it didn’t come, and that’s something as a striker you have to deal with.
“He’s a good boy to have around the team.
“It’s never easy because he isn’t playing so much, but he always shows a positive attitude in training and in the games.
“I feel for him today, but I’m sure other opportunities will come and he will take them.”
■ Why Iheanacho is still the best No.2 striker at City – Talking Points on pages 44 and 45.