RODGERS: LET’S SEAL EURO QUALIFICATION TONIGHT
RODGERS WANTS HIS TEAM TO REACH KNOCKOUT STAGES WITH WIN TONIGHT
LEICESTER LE City could secure qualification fic to the knockout stages of the th Europa League at the earliest possible po opportunity tonight when they th take on Braga.
Victory V at the Estadio Municipal in northern Portugal will guarantee a place in the last 32 for Brendan Rodgers’ Ro side.
Top spot, and an easier draw, will also als be secured if AEK Athens then fail fai to beat Zorya Luhansk.
City have breezed through their maiden Europa League campaign soo far, winning three from three at an aggregate score of 9-1.
But to keep up that form, thoughts of qualification will have to be put to one on side.
“You know when you play against other oth teams in this competition, they th will be at a high level because they are used to winning,” said Rodgers.
“Our away form has been very good, and we won our game in Athens. But we won’t underestimate Braga, even though our result against them (at home, 4-0) was very good. We have to be ready for a tough game.
“I’ve been very pleased. The group has good teams in it and that will always make it difficult.
“Our objective starting out was to make sure we qualified, and we’ve started really well.
“We want to continue that and qualify as early as we can. That would be helpful for us.”
Midfielder James Maddison said: “It’s a case of getting the balance right.
“You don’t want to look too far ahead, and think that if we win this then we can relax because that’s the wrong mindset to have.
“If you let those thoughts creep in, you take your mind off the ball without even meaning to, from experience.
“We’re in a good position and we’re there because we’ve put ourselves there.
“We’ve won three out of three and we’ve worked hard for those games.
“That’s with squad rotation and with different players playing.
“We’ve got a brilliant squad, so whoever the manager picks, it will be a team that’s going to go out there and try to win the game and solidify our place at the top.”