ESCAPE ROUTE?
Rodgers hints at release clause as Arsenal circle...
BRENDAN RODGERS insists that he is fully committed to Leicester City despite appearing to reveal there is a compensation clause in his contract amid interest from Arsenal.
The Foxes boss is high on the shortlist to take over at the Gunners after guiding his current club to 32 points from their opening 14 matches — perhaps the only club now capable of denying Liverpool their first league title since 1990. The teams meet on Boxing Day at the King Power Stadium.
Rodgers further enhanced his reputation with a tactical switch that brought a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Everton yesterday, with substitute Kelechi Iheanacho creating the equaliser for Jamie Vardy and then scoring the winner himself in stoppage time.
The former Celtic boss, who left Parkhead to move to Leicester last February, was coy on the presence of a compensation clause — believed to be £14million — that would buy him out of his contract, but in a separate interview he reaffirmed his dedication to his current club.
Asked whether he was at Leicester to stay, Rodgers told the BBC: ‘Yeah, very much so. I left a club eight-and-a-half months ago and that was a change I made to come to a club with ambition.
‘It is a huge challenge here to break into the top six. I’ve loved every minute since I’ve come here. We have work to do but I’m excited.
‘My focus is very much here with Leicester. The club has been first class with me. The project is very exciting with a lot of development ahead. So my concentration is very much with Leicester.
‘I’ll see where we are at with ten games to go. Then we’ll have a good idea of where we’ll finish.’
Earlier, when questioned about the clause, Rodgers said on Sky
Sports: ‘There probably is (one) in most managers’ contracts. It’s all hypothetical, all these types of situations.’
Rodgers was full of praise for Iheanacho, who was remarkably effective in his first Premier League outing of the season.
The Nigerian striker crossed for Vardy to tap in the equaliser in the 68th minute, and then he produced a calm finish with his left foot deep into stoppage time after collecting a pass from Ricardo Pereira.
Iheanacho had been linked with a loan move away from Leicester in January but Rodgers said: ‘He has such a difficult position, he is behind one of the top European strikers in Jamie Vardy.
‘You saw afterwards with the celebrations with all the players and staff that everyone was so happy for him. He’s such a good boy who gives his all.
‘Any time he comes in, he’ll affect the game. It was great recognition for all his hard work. He’s a representation for all the guys who aren’t playing. When any of these guys have had to come in, they’ve brought something new.’
There is an argument that says VAR will cost a manager his job and this game may test that theory.
Iheanacho’s goal had initially been disallowed for offside before a VAR referral led to Leicester’s delight and dismay for under pressure Everton boss Marco Silva.
It left Everton 17th and Silva insisted his future was out of his hands, saying: ‘I’m not the right person to ask about that. I know what I’m doing. I know what my job is. Tomorrow will be another day for me to prepare another training session.’
The manager was happy with the commitment of his players, though, and believes they showed he has their backing ahead of Wednesday’s derby at Liverpool.
Silva said: ‘I never had doubts about that. I said after the Norwich game you have to show it with actions and they showed that.
‘They are always working hard to get results. This is a tough moment for our dressing room but I told them we have to stay together and they did everything.’
Everton started tentatively. Leicester controlled the tempo, pushing and probing, but the only time that they threatened was in the 13th minute when Ayoze Perez dragged a shot wide.
Gradually, Everton’s confidence began to return. What they needed was a goal and, crucially, it arrived in the 23rd minute when Richarlison finished a move he started, planting a header past Kasper Schmeichel from Djibril Sidibe’s super cross.
Leicester’s tempo improved and James Maddison, Vardy and Youri Tielemans drove them up the field. When the passing clicked, it had Everton heads spinning and, eventually, it yielded an equaliser.
Vardy arrived at the back post, in the 68th minute, to convert Iheanacho’s cross-cum-shot.
If Silva felt bad then, it was nothing compared to the final few seconds. Leicester powered forward, Everton hesitated and Iheanacho drove a dagger into their hearts.
Football may be the beautiful game. Do not forget, though, it is also a desperately cruel one.