Brendan Rodgers advised Leicester may search to have Tuesday’s journey to Everton postponed after being lowered to simply eight senior outfield gamers for Saturday’s FA Cup tie towards Watford.
The Foxes have been hit by a raft of accidents, constructive coronavirus assessments and Africa Cup of Nations call-ups in latest weeks.
They managed to place the issues apart to start their defence of the cup with a convincing 4-1 win over former supervisor Claudio Ranieri’s Hornets of their third-round conflict on the King Energy Stadium.
But with 17 gamers unavailable for varied causes, Leicester boss Rodgers has considerations as he seems forward to the sport at Goodison Park which has already been rearranged as soon as after being postponed final month.
Rodgers stated in an interview: “We’ve been stretched when it comes to numbers and, for the integrity of the competitors, we’ll assess the place we’re at.”
Invited in his post-match press convention to increase upon that comment, Rodgers stated: “You’ve seen for your self the squad and the crew that we’ve got. We have to go in and assess it and see the place we’re at when it comes to gamers. We’ll take it from there.”
Requested if a request for postponement had but been made, he added: “We’ve actually simply completed, so no.”
The previous Liverpool and Celtic boss Rodgers did say, nevertheless, that the scenario was the worst of its type he has skilled in his managerial profession.
“I’ve by no means had this earlier than,” the Northern Irishman stated. “It’s a distinctive scenario.
“Covid when that kicked in, was robust for us. Gamers had been out and we couldn’t relaxation those who had been enjoying, so that they had been overloaded. It’s nice a few of them performed however there was a price for that.
“However it’s a tough scenario for lots of groups and simply specializing in immediately was a fantastic pleasure. Now we have begun our dream of getting again to Wembley once more in a great way.”
Rodgers’ patched-up aspect, which featured 9 adjustments, included 20-year-old Vontae Daley-Campbell and debutant Lewis Brunt, 21. There have been additionally six inexperienced gamers on the bench, together with rested goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
But towards a Hornets aspect displaying seven adjustments of their very own as they give attention to their relegation battle, they had been nonetheless too robust.
A Youri Tielemans penalty and James Maddison strike received them off to a fantastic begin earlier than Harvey Barnes and Marc Albrighton secured victory after a Joao Pedro reply.
Rodgers stated: “The efficiency and outcome, I’m thrilled by. The Academy gamers did exceptionally nicely and it was a very good check towards a Premier League crew.
“It was a tricky sport for us, so to play in addition to we did, I’m delighted.”
Rodgers was significantly impressed by Hamza Choudhury in an unfamiliar central defensive function, evaluating him to one among his outdated Liverpool prices, Javier Mascherano.
Rodgers stated: “Hamza has performed in a again three or again two in coaching, and performed it very nicely, so I rang him up and stated, ‘You’re going to be new Mascherano, for Leicester’.
“I assumed he was sensational within the sport.”
Ranieri was not too disheartened by defeat, making clear he sees the Premier League – and a few essential basement battles within the coming weeks – as extra vital.
The Italian stated: “The efficiency was good however my precedence was to avoid wasting gamers as a result of, for us, the remainder of the season is essential.
“Throughout the match we tried to so one thing good. We scored a aim to make it 2-1 and we had two or three probabilities. Perhaps we needed to shoot extra however, on the finish, Leicester did shoot, and rating.
“Nevertheless it was good as a result of we had no injured gamers and that is essential.”
Kaynak: briturkish.com
