DOUBLE BLOW
BUT CITY STILL DETERMINED TO HOLD ON TO FA CUP DESPITE DECIMATED SQUAD
LEICESTER City are gunning to win the FA Cup again even as life as the holders begins with a squad decimated by injury, writes Jordan Blackwell.
City stars Jamie Vardy and Jonny Evans have been hit by setbacks, while there are new names on the unavailability list, with Boubakary Soumare and Luke Thomas now out, and with doubts over Timothy Castagne and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
In total, City could have 17 firstteam outfield players missing when they take on Watford at the King Power Stadium this afternoon (3pm).
The biggest blows are to Vardy and Evans, whose hamstring issues will keep them out until March and April respectively, with the latter forced to have an operation.
Unlike in the Premier League, where clubs can request matches to be postponed, FA rules state that Under-23 and Under-18 players have to be called upon for the FA Cup, and so City have to press on.
But even with so few players available, Rodgers is not changing his mindset that the competition is there to be won.
“We’re very conscious that we want to maintain the integrity, especially as the holders of the FA Cup,” he said.
“We want to ensure that we give the best defence of it as we possibly can. It’s an opportunity for us to win it again.
“That’s not been an option (to postpone the game) so we’re at where we’re at, which is unfortunate, and we have to do our very best with what we have available.”
City lifted the trophy for the first time in their history last May, Youri Tielemans’ stunning strike earning victory over Chelsea, and Rodgers wants his players to create more memories that last a lifetime. He said: “It was such a memorable competition for us, to win it for the first time in the club’s history was amazing, against such illustrious opponents as well, and with fans being there.
“The memory will be with us all for a lifetime. It will connect us all, players, supporters, staff. Now it’s about the beginning of it again. It’s about winning it.
“We go into the game with the mindset of winning the competition again if we possibly can.
“(Being the holders) gives you an extra motivation and commitment to want to go as far as you can.
“We had an incredible experience last season and it’s something we want to replicate as often as we can, getting to Wembley is an incredible feeling. We’re a long way from that yet.
“If we beat Watford, that gives us an opportunity to get there.”