MADDISON HAS LOST CONFIDENCE
MADDISON MUST WORK HARDER TO REDISCOVER
JAMES Maddison’s confidence is zapped and he must “work even harder” to get it back, manager Brendan Rodgers has said.
The Leicester City attacking midfielder, pictured, went a 17th game without registering a goal or assist in the 2-1 defeat to Brighton and was hooked off at half-time, writes Jordan Blackwell.
The key to Maddison regaining his form is for him to get back to basics, said Rodgers, the manager believing that hard graft will lead to self-belief and, eventually, better performances.
Asked what Maddison needed to improve, Rodgers said: “Time, patience, support. I think it’s understanding that no matter how confident someone is, and how good a player they are, they will always have a period in their career where the confidence isn’t quite there.
“And it’s always about taking them back to the basics. You’ve got to work your socks off, you’ve got to work even harder.
“When you do that, that gives you confidence, and when you have that confidence, you have a greater chance of succeeding and playing to the highest level.
“He’s a brilliant talent, he’s played many fantastic games for Leicester, and he will do that.
“He’s in a little moment where it’s not quite happening for him. He knows as well as anyone. He won’t feel sorry for himself.
“You’ve got to work, you’ve got to put even more into your game and into your life as a player. If you can do that, it gives you a chance to get back to your level.”
Maddison started Sunday’s game as a right winger, but drifted inside.
It was a tactic that didn’t work, and City enjoyed much more success when Ademola Lookman came on at the interval.
“It was just simplifying it,” Rodgers explained. “We were trying to get James in between the lines, it didn’t quite work for us and that’s no fault of his, that’s my responsibility.
“Bringing Ade into the game as a natural winger who can come inside, he was able to combine much better and he looked a real threat for us. The rhythm of the team was much better.”
HIS CONFIDENCE, SAYS RODGERS