IT’S MAKE OR BREAK FOR RODGERS
AS HE approaches his third anniversary as Leicester manager, Brendan Rodgers has outlined his blueprint for putting the club back on track. The coming weeks are likely to determine whether he will be the man to implement it. Ahead of tonight’s meeting with Liverpool at Anfield, Rodgers accepted he was under pressure after an underwhelming season, which hit its lowest point last weekend. He believes the solution is a ‘healthy shake-up’ of the squad at the end of the season. Leicester were dumped out of the FA Cup 4-1 by local rivals Nottingham Forest, prompting Rodgers to question his players’ hunger and challenge them to prove they were good enough to stay. Statements of that nature are rarely well received by club owners, especially from managers already under the microscope. Three days later, Rodgers’ response was to expand on his belief that new blood is needed to stop Leicester’s decline, though he stopped short of calling for a full-scale overhaul. ‘My job is to keep provoking and developing the club and the squad,’ he said. ‘If players aren’t improving and developing, then of course you need that healthy shake-up. We need to reinvigorate the squad. ‘Nine of the 11 players who started at Forest were here when I joined. For the squad to evolve and become better you need to add better players. Money will always talk and Leicester have always worked that side of the market very well. ‘Players will improve and then want to move on and when that happens the club will maximise what they can get. ‘We can never be frightened to do that. If a player is ready to move on, you can get maximum value and then reintroduce hunger and desire from another player. The club will always look to keep their best players and if it’s not possible then you go into the market.’ Rodgers’ supporters argue that a season like this was to be expected after two of the best campaigns in the club’s history, which yielded consecutive fifth-place finishes and an FA Cup triumph. They have also had to handle a dreadful injury list which has forced out Jamie Vardy, Jonny Evans, James Justin, Wesley Fofana, Ryan Bertrand, Ricardo Pereira, Timothy Castagne and Wilfred Ndidi. The absence of Vardy, in particular, has hit Leicester hard. Even at 35, he remains one of the most dangerous forwards about. With Vardy missing due to hamstring trouble since December 28, opposing defenders have been able to breathe a little easier. Yet Leicester’s poor form cannot be attributed solely to bad luck. They signed two defenders — Jannik Vestergaard and Bertrand — from a Southampton team that they beat 9-0 in October 2019. While one game is not a general indicator of performance, both players have underwhelmed since joining last summer. Normally so smart in their transfer and contract dealings, Leicester now have Vardy, Kasper Schmeichel, Youri Tielemans, Caglar Soyuncu and Ayoze Perez with contracts expiring at the end of next season. The club are likely to listen to bids for Tielemans this summer, with the midfielder no closer to signing a new contract, while offers are expected for Harvey Barnes and James Maddison. Fofana and Justin are also coveted, though it would be a surprise if either were sold, with Justin expected to agree a new long-term contract. If Rodgers is to regain a strong position improvement is needed, with a good finish to the season required — ideally including a run in the Europa Conference League. There can be no more displays like the one at the City Ground. ‘We’ve had a great run here for a period of time but results like the one at the weekend will always put you under pressure as a manager, I don’t shy away from that,’ he said. ‘I pick the team and choose the tactics so when we lose it’s my responsibility. You can’t mask results and I’d never try to.’ Rodgers is clear about what needs to be done in the long term but, as he knows well, short-term results are what make or break a manager.