Invisible Foxes
Only natural for Leicester to be overlooked, says Rodgers
LEICESTER CITY have largely been ignored in the Premier League title race debate, despite running as the closest challengers to leaders Liverpool, but manager Brendan Rodgers says his side are used to being overlooked.
Leicester set a club record of eight successive top-flight wins after beating Aston Villa 4-1 yesterday to stay within eight points of Liverpool, while defending champions Manchester City are third, 14 points behind the leaders.
“I don’t think anybody expects us to be anywhere near the top, “Rodgers said. “It doesn’t really rile us, it’s part of the game I suppose.
“After Manchester United won at Manchester City, a caption came up after the game about how far Manchester City are away from Liverpool. We respect that and we just get on with our job.”
“Manchester City and Liverpool are both incredible teams in the league and have shown last year how good they were,” he added.
“For us, we know that we are constantly trying to improve and look to close the gap. But I thought today we looked like a top team.”
Jamie Vardy netted twice in the win at Villa to take his tally in the top flight this season to 16 goals.
That’s five more than any other player.
“Jamie is such a toplevel player,” said boss Rodgers about a striker who has scored in eight successive games.
“He is always ready when the chances come; you don’t think there’s any doubt he is going to score.”
The goalscorer pounced on Kelechi Iheanacho’s pass to tuck away his first after rounding goalkeeper Tom Heaton, despite mishitting his initial strike, and then sprinted clear to tuck home a second late on in a classic Leicester counter attack.
“He is very hard to play against because he is such a threat,” Rodgers said. “His first goal – his movement, (it was) a great pass by (Iheanacho) who plays him in.
“The second was what you would say is a ‘Jamie Vardy goal.’”
Rodgers added that Vardy deserves to be in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for next summer’s European Championships even though the 32-yearold effectively retired from international football at the beginning of last season.
“If you are talking about being deserving, he would be in it a long time ago,” explained Rodgers.
“It’s his choice. I think he is enjoying his work at Leicester, he is enjoying his international break where he is able to rest.
“He is one who also knows that probably Harry Kane will play. He is the captain, he is going to play.
“He may as well enjoy his break while he can get it.”