Rodgers Wards off the critics
FOXES BOSS BACKS UNDER-FIRE KEEPER
BRENDAN RODGERS admits “the heat is on” tonight but has pledged to stick with under-fire goalkeeper Danny Ward.
Rodgers’ Leicester are bottom of the Premier League after six straight defeats – their worst start to a topflight season since 1983/84 – as they host local rivals, Nottingham Forest.
Ward has conceded 22 goals, more than anyone ever in the Premier League after seven games, including 11 in their last two. The Foxes sold their long-term No.1 Kasper Schmeichel to French club Nice this summer and promoted his understudy, Ward.
But the Wales international, who only made his belated Premier League debut in May despite signing in July 2018 from Liverpool for £12.5million, has endured a torrid baptism.
Manager Rodgers said: “The one thing that’s needed is time. You can’t take away the great servant that Kasper was, and the great influence and personality that he was here.
“With Danny coming in, he then has to bring his own personality to the team and that does take a little bit of time and cohesion.
“It’s been a really challenging start for him but you have to show faith. I see him every day, he’s an outstanding goalkeeper and it hasn’t been an easy start for the team, as well as him.
“We spoke about the goalkeeping situation in the summer and Wardy deserves that opportunity. So he’s been given it and I’m sure in time he will take it.”
Ward has made 21 saves so far this term but has been conceding on average over three goals a match. He has looked particularly vulnerable at set-pieces which has long been Leicester’s Achilles’ heel.
Rodgers (below) said: “You judge goalkeepers not just on the saves they make but how they react to mistakes.
“We need to support him and look to get him through if we believe in him. I believe he’s a really good keeper and hopefully over time he can show that.”
Leicester’s Thai chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha is scheduled to attend tonight’s clash at the King Power Stadium.
But under-pressure Rodgers added: “Monday night against Forest should be a great game. I’m really looking forward to it because I know the heat is on.”
Steve Cooper insists he will deal with Forest’s current slump “head on”.
The manager, whose side have lost their last four Premier League matches, said: “Getting out of this little run means a lot to me – standing up and being a leader in the difficult moments more than in the good.
“In the tough moments, I want to be the first person that everyone looks at.”
Forest broke a British record for a single transfer window by signing 22 players over the summer.
And Cooper added: “It’s not easy working with a new group, but this is what elite sports is about – challenges – and we’re dealing with it head on.”