BREN’S PARTY LINE

Rodgers: No regrets over dumping Covid rebels

BRENDAN RODGERS sacrificed a Champions League spot to crackdown on four errant Leicester City stars – and insists he would do it again.

The Foxes chief returns to the London Stadium today, four months after taking on the Hammers against the backdrop of Covid protocol violations.

Four of his players – James Maddison (top, right), Ayoze Perez (second), Hamza Choudhury (third) and the sidelined Harvey Barnes (bottom) – went to a party in breach of Premier League rules and three were omitted from the side that lost 3-2 to David Moyes’ men.

Leicester eventually missed out on a place in the top four by just one point but Rodgers said he was determined to maintain discipline – even at the expense of Champions League qualification. He said: “Would I do it again? One hundred per cent.

“We have a standard on and off the pitch which I demand. Part of that is that you have to sacrifice and commit.

Suffered

“At the time, those young guys fell short of that. But I didn’t fall out with them.

“It just wasn’t the application or the professionalism we wanted at the time. But they suffered because it took them out of the team and away from the squad.

“And if you want to succeed and you want to be a top club you have to have discipline.

“Fingers crossed, I’ll never have to do that again. But if a situation like this arises then I would do it again, 150 per cent. For the good of the team and the club, yes, I would.”

Rodgers believes that, far from damaging morale, his response had a galvanising effect on a squad that ended up lifting the FA Cup for the first time.

He added: “It helped us. Maybe not on that day because we were missing some very good players. But it certainly helped us going forward.

“It’s helped us in a positive way. It was an education for them. They’re young guys, talented players who have made a mistake.

“Those guys were accepted into the group again and they have all done well since going back. They’ve learned their lesson and there’s no doubt it galvanised us and brought us closer together.”

The Hammers did the double over the Foxes last season – and Rodgers admits both defeats were deserved.

“We just didn’t play well in either game,” he said.

And he says that Moyes’ success in the east end is no surprise to him.

Experience

He said: “David is an outstanding manager. He always has been. From Preston to Everton where they were a very competitive Premier League team. It warranted a move to Manchester United.

“When he came out of there, he was still a top manager. He’s gone away, gained experience abroad. He went in the first time into West Ham but he’s clearly top-class.

“He’s been at the top of the game for many years, although I just hope he has a hiccup against us.”