Rodgers’ ‘high standards’ gets Foxes flying

A NINE-HOLE golf course will be one of the most eye-catching features of Leicester’s new £100million training ground, yet before a shot has been played, the club’s owners must feel they have already struck a hole in one.

In a little more than seven months as manager, Brendan Rodgers has transformed Leicester from a club drifting in the bottom half of the table to candidates for the top four.

They face Liverpool at Anfield this afternoon as the best of the rest in the Premier League: fresh, exciting, disciplined and energetic. The challenges that faced Rodgers — to improve the style of play and recover Jamie Vardy’s best form — have been achieved with flying colours.

Speak to anyone about the Rodgers effect and the phrase ‘high standards’ is used repeatedly.

Training sessions are planned meticulously, with folders of colour-coded documents charting each stint. There are individual drinks stations for each player, so how much fluid is being taken on board can be monitored.

The ball is used virtually throughout as Rodgers sees little sense in running for running’s sake. He once said: “People ask me, ‘Why don’t you go on runs through the woods?’ Well, I’ve never seen a tree on a football field.”

Rodgers oversaw an improvement at the end of the last campaign but made his presence felt in pre-season.

The squad returned from their holidays in excellent condition, proof that they were buying into Rodgers’ ideas. Further tests conducted during last month’s international break were also encouraging, with many players achieving new top speeds and highest leaps.

Rodgers is keen on individual coaching, too, and has spent considerable time with James Maddison — one of the league’s best midfielders this season — working on his tactical discipline and individual pressing.

Rodgers has encouraged an environment in which everybody at the club feels part of the same cause. First team, Under 23 and academy sides use the same facilities, and the manager takes an interest in off-field matters, such as players’ commercial appearances.

Results give a strong endorsement to Rodgers’ methods. Only Liverpool and Manchester City have gathered more points than Leicester since he was appointed. |