Rodgers will play his strongest team in a bid to win the Europa League

CITY ICON KING SAYS PLAYERS WANT TO LIFT TROPHY TO HONOUR LEGACY OF THE CLUB’S LATE CHAIRMAN

LEICESTER City are heading into the new year with silverware on their minds as the club make Europa League success a priority in 2021.

City start the new year in an excellent position, ranked third in a tight Premier League table and having secured their place in the Europa League knockout stages as group winners.

Their successful start to continental competition earned them a seed in the draw for the last 32, and they take on Slavia Prague in a two-legged tie in February.

So far, Brendan Rodgers has rotated considerably for Europa League fixtures, with the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho and Cengiz Under featuring regularly, but City icon Andy King believes the manager will start fielding his strongest team in a bid to make it to the final in Gdasnk in May, such is the desire to lift a trophy at the club.

Rodge r s has always said winning competitions was an aim of his, and King knows the squad are keen to add to the trophy cabinet to honour the legacy of late chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, below.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if (the Europa League) is not already a priority competition because I know from when Vichai died, they certainly wanted to win a trophy for him,” King, who has been training with City while he searches for a new club, told the BBC.

“That’s what he wanted, silverware. He would rather that than a top-four spot. “I know the lads, and the manager, are desperate to do it for his son and for Vichai’s legacy. “They’re in the last 32, so that’s five rounds. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re playing their strongest 11 in the Europa

League. You might rest them and you lose the game and all of a sudden you’re out, and then you’re thinking that you’ve rested them for no reason anyway.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see what Rodgers thinks is his strongest 11 play those games.”

City are currently fifth favourites to win the competition behind Tottenham, Manchester United, Arsenal and AC Milan.

And that’s not their only shot at silverware.

Their FA Cup campaign begins in just over a week’s time with a third-round trip to

Stoke City, aiming to end their infamous record in the historic competition of four runnersup medals and no wins.

After Vichai died, they certainly wanted to win a trophy for him. That’s what he wanted, silverware

Andy King, right