Rodgers joy as City boss hails Foxes
MAN CITY v LEICESTER CITY
BRENDAN RODGERS admits Pep Guardiola handed him one of the best Christmas presents he could have wished for.
The Manchester City boss gave Rodgers’ Leicester side a proper name-check when asked about trying to chase Liverpool for the title.
Pep said City would do well to concentrate on catching Leicester first before they even tried to give the leaders a thought.
And that was music to the ears of Foxes boss Rodgers, who admits he finds the casual dismissal of his side’s achievements strangely amusing.
Leicester travel to City today four points ahead in second with Jurgen Klopp’s favourites a further 10 points in front.
Former Celtic boss Rodgers said: “That was a remarkable quote from an incredible coach. That just shows you the level this team is playing at.
“It’s quite funny to hear people talking. It’s like it’s the top six – and then us.
“I get it because there are some big clubs there
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“For him to say that is a big credit to our players, the consistency they are showing.
“We have to continue proving our worth as there’s this perception but we’re more than happy to do that.
“At the beginning of the season no one would have expected us to be in the position we’re in.
“But we relish going to the likes of City. They are the champions and they are a top-class team.
“It gives us the chance to show how we’re developing as a team.” Leicester go into a hectic Christmas schedule which sees them play big title games with City today then Liverpool on Boxing Day.
They then travel to West Ham on the 28th for a 5.30pm kick-off and Rodgers admits he’ll have to rest players.
He added: “The game is about money now. You can’t say it’s about the welfare of players. We’re playing at eight o’clock on 26th then on the 28th we are playing at 5.30pm.
“So I can see all that and you can manage all that if somewhere there is leeway for the players.
“We’ll have a busy January – which is brilliant – but the players aren’t robots. It’s not a computer game.
“They need to have some respite now because of how the fixtures have worked. When I was in Scotland there was a proper break but that’s not happening here.”