MX23RW : Thursday, February 13 17:07:33| >> :60:3442:3442:

Rodgers backs player power because it shows they care

Rodgers backs player power because it shows they care
© Reuters
The new manager is content he can handle Leicester's dressing room.

New manager Brendan Rodgers has welcomed Leicester's player power because he believes it shows they care.

The 46-year-old feels he can handle a strong dressing room after joining the Foxes from Celtic this week.

Jamie Vardy and Kasper Schmeichel have both been accused of wielding too much power at the Foxes and helping to drum out Claudio Ranieri two years ago and Claude Puel this week.

Schmeichel's father, Peter, even went on television last month, saying his son wanted to leave and Leicester would do better without Puel.

But Rodgers insisted he has no issue with strong characters as it demonstrates their passion.

"I will very much lead them," he said, ahead of Sunday's trip to Watford.

"I am finding, and I have heard this a number of times with players, but what you tend to find with these players is they are the players that actually really care about doing well.

"When something is not quite right they will have an opinion. What I find from the outside looking in and then coming into this, I am so happy to have that type of player here because they are ambitious.

"They want it to work well. As long as you give them the purpose and you are clear on how you want to work then they will thrive on that.

"The changing room is nice when you come in for the first few days, it is always good, but I have no issue with that.

"You want that leadership and the characters. Of course, if it oversteps the mark then you deal with it but I don't think that will be the case.

"I have a group of hungry young players, a group of senior players who have had a few years of the title win and everything that goes around it.

"Now I think they appreciate it's a case of right, let's stabilise, get focused and go again."

A number of players, including Schmeichel, came in on their day off on Wednesday to speak to Rodgers after an informal invite following his Tuesday appointment.

He said: "I had a nice meeting when I was here on the Tuesday night and then the Wednesday when they had the free day I asked all the players if they wanted to talk I was at the training ground all day.

"He was one of the players that came in. It was brilliant. We had a really good chat. I think I find him a really good guy."

Rodgers, who signed a deal until 2022, is also mindful of keeping his best players with Harry Maguire likely to attract interest from bigger clubs in the summer.

He added: "They may well do but it doesn't worry me. I think all you can worry is that you make the team the very best they can be. You always have to be prepared for that moment as a club. It happens.

"But at this moment in time, I'm thinking about the team, and making the best that we can."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Nick Mashiter, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'e4c32b4b-44ee-44c6-b6a4-4b1c008657f1');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Rodgers backs player power because it shows they care'});

ID:352025: cacheID:352025:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5469:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Brendan Rodgers takes a Celtic training session on February 13, 2019
Read Next:
I understand Celtic fans' pain - new Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool24176158233557
2Arsenal24148249222750
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest24145540271347
4Chelsea24127547311643
5Manchester CityMan City24125748351341
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle24125742291341
7Bournemouth24117641281340
8Aston Villa2410773437-337
9Fulham249963632436
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2481063538-334
11Brentford2494114242031
12Crystal Palace247982830-230
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd2485112834-629
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs24831348371127
15Everton246992530-527
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2476112946-1727
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2454153452-1819
18Leicester CityLeicester2445152553-2817
19Ipswich TownIpswich2437142249-2716
20Southampton2423191854-369


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!