[ad_1]
BRendan Rodgers has a fascinating question to ponder before Saturday night, one that few coaches can ponder: how do you beat Manchester City, in the same way as last time or in a different, even bolder way?
There will be an obvious temptation to recycle the counterattack master plan that resulted in a thrilling 5-2 win at the Etihad Stadium in September, but there are other options available, such as the impeccably choreographed blitz to the face that overwhelmed Manchester United in the Quarterfinals of the FA Cup two weeks ago.
Versatility is a quality Rodgers has honed at Leicester, and that is an important factor in the club’s continued progression. Beating Manchester City probably wouldn’t put them back in the title race, but it would strengthen their chances of earning a place in the Champions League as further proof of Leicester and their manager’s development.
The best educators need willing and capable students, which Rodgers has in Leicester thanks to smart recruiting and a productive academy. They also need the ability to teach and the ability to keep learning. As for the former, Rodgers evidently communicates with his players. That is evident from his performances and his spirit. When asked this week to describe his mentoring style, he explained why he is rarely seen enraged from the bench and neither does he in the locker room or training ground.
“At the highest level, sometimes you have to be tough to be clear, but I’m not a loudmouth or a loudmouth,” he said. “I can get my message across very frankly, the players will tell you, but I think the modern game is a bit like going to college. Today’s players have a good understanding of the technical and tactical side of the game and understand the science as well as any generation of players. So they come to training to be better, not to have a coach or a coach yell at them and destroy them psychologically.
“That doesn’t mean you don’t test, challenge and pressure them. But I’ve always found a way to try to do that while still having a level of respect for people. “
Sometimes these people need what Rodgers calls “an emotional push.” He said: “Sometimes you go into halftime and it’s not the technical or tactical element of the game. [that you need to address]It’s just an emotional hook that you need so that the players join in playing with greater intensity ”.
A good example seemed to come against Brighton last month. Leicester traveled south thanks to disappointing results against Burnley and Arsenal and elimination from the Europa League against Slavia Prague. When Brighton took an early lead, Leicester fans began to fear, especially with injuries on the rise, that the club’s season could end as it did last year. Instead, Rodgers’ team emerged from halftime as if plugged into a charger. They earned a 2-1 win to get their season back on track, followed by emphatic victories against Sheffield United and Manchester United. There is more to Leicester this season.
That is why they have also scored more points (16) out of the supposed big six this season than in all of last season (when they took nine).
Which brings us back to the match with Manchester City. The 5-2 victory offered irrefutable proof of Rodgers’ own development, of the educator’s ability to continue learning.
The only complaint with him during his trophy-laden stint at Celtic was that too often he failed to adapt his approach against the more powerful European teams. But in September he surprised Pep Guardiola’s team by defending in numbers and shooting from deep with ruthless precision and regularity. It was against his instincts to preach a strategy that ensured only 28% of possession, but Rodgers judged him well.
“For me it is a difficult thing to do because I am always a guy who likes the team to play with a level of dominance,” he said this week recalling that game. “But sometimes it’s about recognizing that the opponent has a really high level of technique and if you push the game as you normally want, it will expose you. It’s just about balance. There have been times when I could probably have done a little better in my career, but now I am a coach with a little more wisdom and a little more evolution ”.
In recent weeks, his team has evolved in a way few observers saw coming. Kelechi Iheanacho, frustrated and frustrating for so long, has become a goal machine, scoring seven in his last four games. “It’s clear he’s at his best when he has someone around him,” Rodgers said of the Nigerian who, in addition to scoring, has cleverly paired with Jamie Vardy and Ayoze Perez, who has thrived in a central role. right behind the two forwards.
The Fiver – Sign up and receive our daily soccer email.
The question is whether Rodgers should use that system against Guardiola’s team on Saturday rather than being behind a lone striker as they did in September. And if so, should the coach replace Perez with Maddison, who is back after missing the past six weeks with a hip injury and eager to make up for lost time, especially after missing a chance to impress Gareth? Southgate in the last international break before the England game? Is the Euro 2020 squad named?
Rodgers has options and tends to use them well. That is why Leicester could slow Manchester City’s march to the title. And if both teams’ FA Cup semi-finals go their way this month, Rodgers could also become the coach to deny Guardiola the quadruple.
