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Jamie Vardy has been Manchester City’s scourge throughout the years, scoring a hat-trick in Leicester’s 5-2 win at the Etihad Stadium in September to bring his goal total against the Premier League leaders to 11. But there is another striker ahead, watch out for Saturday.
Kelechi Iheanacho also hopes to play against his former club as long as he is in the shape of his life. Seven goals in four games changed his season and revitalized Leicester just as injuries seemed to be taking their toll.
Brendan Rodgers is clearly delighted. “Since he joined the team he has been fantastic,” he says. Sky sports. “I am delighted for him because he is such a conscientious guy, such an honest guy and, as you can see now, a very talented player.
“If you think about his career, he was the young Manchester City player after being the player of the tournament at the U-17 World Cup. He gets in, scores some goals, but there are talented players ahead so it’s hard to get that time of play.
“Then he moves to Leicester where he has Jamie Vardy here, one of the best strikers in the Premier League. Plus, you have the adaptation of leaving Manchester City and coming to another club, so that’s always going to take that little bit of weather.
“I know when I came here that there were probably times where there were complaints if he was playing, but he has won over people very quickly. That’s just through hard work, stamina and talent. What you are looking at is a player. young man in the best of his game. “
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FREE TO SEE: Kelechi Iheanacho hat-trick against Sheffield United
Iheanacho’s own satisfaction is obvious – his scream after his player of the match award against Manchester United in Leicester’s FA Cup quarter-final victory last time was caught on camera. He summarized the passion that the Nigerian brings to the group.
“He’s not reserved,” Rodgers says, a warm smile on his face. “He’s very charismatic. He really comes in with a smile on his face every day. He loves his football. That’s a great starting point. He’s at his peak every day. He works hard every day.”
“I can’t remember that he has missed a day of training since I’ve been here. He helps our centers to improve at their jobs because he is very aggressive towards them.
“That has not always been enough to see him start, but he is a player who has a great attitude. He is very much a team player. Some guys, especially the forwards, maybe they can think of themselves and be individualists. Soloists. He is. a great team player.
“All the guys love him. Now what you’re starting to see is all of his qualities. How he receives the ball. His strength. His ability to shoot. His anticipation as a forward. You’re seeing all these things now because he’s playing.” with trust. I am delighted for him. “
As Rodgers points out, Iheanacho’s talent was never in doubt, having been identified as one of the most talented prospects in the game as a teenager. Now, the potential is being realized. His hit rate this season is higher than that of the best forwards in the Premier League.
“I remember talking to Ian Rush when he was in Liverpool and he told me that no matter how a striker feels, if he is tired in the game or tired in training, when he hits the back of the net it gives him confidence.” gives you energy, I never forgot.
“He’s like any forward, if you are able to get a rhythm of play and you can gain that confidence within that rhythm, then you are going to play the game at a higher level. I think it’s just that continuity of games that he has really helped him. to improve “.
In fact, Iheanacho’s inclusion in the starting lineup against Manchester United was his fifth straight start for Leicester. Surprisingly, at the age of 24, it is the first time in his career that his club has selected him for five matches in a row.
Why have you had to wait so long?
“When he has played in a diamond structure or in a 3-1-4-2, he has always played well and combined with another forward. That is probably what he is best suited for. But I have played many times. This season with a center forward and two open forwards “.
Injuries brought opportunities. Harvey Barnes suffered an injury. James Maddison was also out. Rodgers had to find an alternative solution, and a line-up change reaped rewards.
“When we lost our attacking players,” explains Rodgers, “we lost our wingers, our really creative players, and it was just a case of trying to find a way to achieve balance in the team to give ourselves a really creative look while preserving defensive stability as well.
“We played a game against Arsenal and I didn’t like how my team played in that game. It was 4-4-2 but it wasn’t flexible, it wasn’t dynamic. It became a straight line when we brought our players out. I felt like I had to look at that to change the dynamics of the team.
“In general, I’m not one to play 4-4-2. Just really in the diamond shape. So we decided to play 3-4-1-2 and then move on to 3-1-4-2. looking at different aspects of how they could play together and it has worked very well for us.
“That was because we needed to put that creativity into the team. With the players that we had available, it was a case of finding that balance that allowed us to do that and then give them real clarity about their positions with and without the ball.”
“It’s about being open-minded. Sometimes when you’re younger, you see that as a commitment. It’s not that. As you gain experience and wisdom, you realize there is an evolution as a coach.
“What we’ve had to do this year because of the amount of injuries we’ve received throughout is have that flexibility. We had to find this system to keep being creative and then it became a case of finding the advantages within the system. That’s the game. “
The Iheanacho-Vardy partnership has been a revelation of late, particularly given that the pair didn’t start a single one of Leicester’s first 37 games of the season.
“That was purely for the tactical idea,” says Rodgers. He is quick to point out that there was a 4-1 win over Aston Villa last season in which the two worked well together. Given their vastly different skill sets, there’s no real reason why they can’t be combined.
“The connection, the synergy, between the two is very good because they are both slightly different. Jamie likes to penetrate the bottom line. Kels can do that, but he can also go under and play. In the end, you need the intelligence of players to make it work. “
Importantly, Iheanacho was ready to seize his opportunity.
“When you are not playing, you may not feel as involved. But he is always willing to contribute, either from the beginning or the beginning. That is important. His mindset and attitude have allowed him to be prepared when asked. . to touch.”
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Rodgers also deserves credit for not losing a player who has been an unused substitute during his Premier League career with Leicester more times than he has started.
“It’s just communication. You have to communicate. That’s key. Take the time in training to talk to them about certain aspects of their game, specific exercises in their completion. Try to help them gain that confidence. I try to reinforce that, especially with Kelechi. .
“Just because someone is not always playing, I keep trying to give respect to the player by having that communication so that it helps them to always feel part of what you are doing. What I have always tried to recognize with him is his importance to the team.”
Now there is talk of a new contract and a new career path. Since you only returned from international service on Friday morning, the next departure may not be Saturday. But there is awareness that the best of Kelechi Iheanacho is yet to come.
“Definitely,” Rodgers says. “He’s not even close to what you would call his active age. That will come later in his career. He still has a lot of development, but I think he’s enjoying his football, which is important. Come in, you see him smiling and enjoying it.
“He is one with whom we obviously want to continue working.”
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