Rule-breaking Foxes trio can be heroes on pitch, insists Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers believes Leicester’s tarnished trio can become heroes again after their Covid breach.

James Maddison, Ayoze Perez and Hamza Choudhury are available for tomorrow’s FA Cup semi-final showdown with Southampton.

They were dropped for last weekend’s 3-2 defeat at West Ham for attending a party at Perez’s house after the Foxes’ Premier League loss to Manchester City.

Leicester are aiming to reach the FA Cup final for the first time since 1969 and Rodgers believes the trio can restore their reputations on the pitch.

“That is what they are very determined to do,” he said. “The best way they can do that as a player is by their actions on the field.

“We dealt with it last week when they trained separately and they understood the consequences. We had a meeting at the beginning of the week and we accept their apologies. They were sincere and knew they’d made a mistake.”

It is the Foxes’ first FA Cup semi final in 39 years, after they beat Manchester United in the quarterfinals, and Rodgers underlined the importance of keeping calm.

“In these moments that ability to have that self control is very important,” he said.

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has challenged his side to stay hungry and hunt down Leicester to book their place in the final.

A 3-0 defeat at West Brom was hardly the best warm-up for a showpiece semi-final but Hasenhuttl, though, sees tomorrow’s Wembley encounter as the perfect place to again prove their cup pedigree.

This produced wins and clean sheets over holders Arsenal then away at Wolves and Bournemouth.

“I don’t think this is a problem of not having the right mindset,” said Hasenhuttl.

“When we are hungry and when we know what we have to hunt for, then we are strong – and this is what I expect from my team at the weekend.”

Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel has admitted Chelsea still lag behind Manchester City – but said he aims to hunt down Europe’s “benchmark” club next season.

Chelsea face City in their FA Cup semi-final today and the Blues’ German boss believes they still have long-term ground to make up on quadruple-chasing City, but has exhorted his players to close that gap just for 90 minutes this weekend.

“We have to admit there is a gap but for 90 minutes we are very selfaware and very selfconfident that we believe we can close the gap tomorrow for one game.

“I arrive happy to compete against the benchmark in England and Europe.”

City manager Pep Guardiola has backed Phil Foden to let his football do the talking.

Foden, 20, had a starring role in the Champions League quarter-final win over Borussia Dortmund, scoring winners in both legs.

But he was at the centre of a social media storm after Wednesday’s second-leg win.

Foden was reportedly angered after the company controlling his accounts posted a tweet calling out Paris St Germain striker Kylian Mbappe.

It was later deleted and Foden has since severed ties with the company.

Foden is currently enjoying the best spell of his career and Guardiola said: ““It doesn’t matter what we’ve done. It’s what we have to do today.

“Today everybody is involved, talking and social media, but you have to talk on the grass. It’s the only way.

“Everything we get right now is on the grass, not in any other situations.”

James Maddison.