‘We must learn from the hurt of cup defeat’
USE CUP HEARTBREAK AS MOTIVATION, URGES RODGERS
THE Leicester City squad must use the hurt of their Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to achieve success in other competitions, says manager Brendan Rodgers.
City suffered a devastating loss on Tuesday night as Mahmoud Trezeguet’s injury-time gutpunch knocked them out of the Carabao Cup and booked Aston Villa’s place at Wembley on March 1.
While the players will be reeling from the defeat, and the nature of it, they have two further opportunities for success this season: the
FA Cup and Champions League qualification.
City are well-set in both competitions, hosting a lower-league side in Birmingham or Coventry in the last 16 of the FA Cup, and 14 points clear of fifth place in the Premier League.
Rodgers expects Tuesday night’s hammer blow will be a “motivator” for the squad.
“I said this is what you need as well as a player,” the manager said.
“You’re within touching distance of finals and, of course, we want to get there, but this will increase your determination.
“They’ve been brilliant this season. Over the two games, we’ve created so many chances, our only criticism was that we could have been more clinical, and we could have got to a final.
“We can use it as a great motivator going forward. We’re in a great position in the FA Cup. And we can take our form into the league.
“It’s a process. We’ve seen how seriously we wanted to take the cup competitions. We’ve had some tough games.
“The players are hurting. But it’s part of it at this level. You have to take it, and it hurts, but that hurt will help you going forward.”
City are now preparing for Saturday’s league game at home against Chelsea knowing a win will further boost their top four hopes.
It is the 17th and final match of a hectic two-month period for the club, with a 13-day break following the weekend clash.