Rodgers Hails City Composure
- Brendan Rodgers praises Leicester City’s composure after they recorded a 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Everton
- The Foxes drew 2-2 with the Toffees in normal time, despite leading 2-0 in the first period
- Rodgers expressed his desire to advance even further in the Carabao Cup after being drawn against Aston Villa in the semi-finals
The Foxes scored twice in four first-half minutes through James Maddison and Jonny Evans to put themselves in a favourable position heading into the break.
However, Tom Davies halved the deficit for the visiting side with 20 minutes to play before a rocket from Leighton Baines made it 2-2 in injury time.
But City, determined to bounce back from Everton’s two goals, came out on top after the shootout as Kasper Schmeichel saved two penalties before Ben Chilwell, Ricardo Pereira, Demarai Gray and Jamie Vardy were on target from 12 yards.
Rodgers told LCFC TV: “It would have been a crime if we didn’t get through because we were, I felt, the much better team. In the first half, we had good control in the game and scored two very good goals.
“We had other opportunities and looked a threat. Defensively, apart from a header right at the very beginning, we were comfortable in the game. In the second half, we weren’t really in any danger, but I felt we waited on the game a little bit.
“At 2-0, we’re thinking we can see it through. We stopped getting on the ball and stopped making passes. Still, we weren’t giving away too much. Then, out of nowhere, they get the goal, which obviously galvanises the team and gives the crowd a little bit of momentum, but still, we’re reasonably comfortable in the game.
“Then, Leighton [Baines] scores an absolute wonder strike at the end and so from being comfortable and nearly going three up when Marc [Albrighton] hits the bar, we’re down to 2-2 and then you’re looking at the focus of our players.
“They kept great composure, great focus and then eventually got over the line.”
After four-consecutive away games in the Carabao Cup this term, Rodgers is pleased to be able to contest a fixture in the competition on home soil after his men were drawn against Aston Villa in a two-legged affair in the semi-finals.
“It feels good, because it’s something that’s important for us,” he said of City’s progression. “We want to go as deep as we can in as many of the competitions we can.
“We need to learn from the second half, where we just stopped controlling the game and stopped moving for the ball.
“However, we’re doing it the hard way. We’ve been away in all our games – away at Newcastle, away at Everton and away at Burton, so they’ve been tough games for us, but the players have got great resilience and a great mentality.
“Now, we look forward to whoever we play over the two legs to look to get through.”