‘Vestergaard always knew he was reserve centre-back’
DANISH STAR HAS FALLEN DOWN PECKING ORDER
JANNIK Vestergaard was aware he would only be Leicester City’s reserve centre-back when he joined the club, Brendan Rodgers insists.
The £15 million summer signing has only started two of the club’s last 15 Premier League matches despite an injury crisis in the back-line.
At times, he has even been behind defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi in the pecking order, with the Nigerian dropping back to plug a gap.
Vestergaard has had a torrid time when he has played, winning none of the eight games he has started in the Premier League and in Europe, with City conceding 19 goals across those fixtures.
On Sunday, he was brought on in the final few minutes to strengthen the rearguard as they prepared for West Ham to bombard the box after throwing Craig Dawson up front, but he could not help City hang on to three points.
Before the game, it was put to Rodgers that it might not be good for Vestergaard’s confidence to see non-defenders start ahead of him.
But the manager replied: “I think it’s been really unfortunate for Jannik as is it on the understanding of what his role was when he came in.
“We had Jonny (Evans) and Wesley (Fofana) and Cags (Soyuncu) as the three and Daniel (Amartey) there as support, and him (Vestergaard) coming in as cover centre-half.
“So he was aware of the role. “For large parts of the season we’ve actually had Wesley out and Jonny out and Cags for a long period as well.
“So he’s been able to come in and play there.
“I think in certain games Jannik probably will be able to play.
“But there’s also games where my methods are for a back-line to be high and to have speed in the line.
“Our two centre-halves (v Liverpool last Thursday, Amartey and Ndidi) helped keep a clean sheet before in the home game against Liverpool, so I went with those two.
“I thought those two did very well but Jannik is a top professional. He knows the role coming in. He’s like most players, they all want to play. But he’s a first-class professional.”
Sunday’s appearance off the bench was the first time in Vestergaard’s
five substitute appearances for City that they have not clinched victory. The Dane had previously been brought on for wins over Wolves, Manchester United, Spartak Moscow, and Brentford.