Cottee Praises 'Strong, Enthusiastic & Talented' Foxes
- Leicester City have been a consistent Premier League force in 2019/20, says Tony Cottee
- The former Foxes forward is impressed with many aspects of Brendan Rodgers’ first full season in charge
- Rodgers' tactical insights have played a key role in City's recent success, Cottee believes
Ex-Leicester striker Cottee, who scored 34 times in 99 games for the Club between 1997 and 2000, is now a regular pundit covering City on LCFC TV and LCFC Radio.
With Rodgers’ side sitting third in the Premier League table, Cottee has been thrilled to watch on throughout 2019/20 as the Foxes play an exciting brand of football under the Northern Irishman.
“I think the key word is consistency,” Cottee commented last week. “Everyone’s striving for it, not many teams have managed it this season, but Leicester have been one of those.
“That wonderful run with the successive league victories and the incredible Southampton result (winning 9-0 at St. Mary’s), which was actually my first game commentating for LCFC Radio - I couldn’t have picked a better one to start on!
Southampton 0 Leicester City 9
Enjoy extended highlights from St. Mary's Stadium as Leicester City delivered a stunning display to defeat Southampton in the Premier League.
“To be in the position the Club’s in, being in a Champions League place, if the Club can achieve that, it’s a wonderful achievement following on from four years ago.”
The influence of Rodgers, in the former Liverpool and Celtic manager's first full season in charge, has also impressed Cottee, especially from the tactical side of the game.
“I think he’s had massive influence, I felt at the time it was a really good appointment and subsequently he’s proved that,” Cottee continued.
“He’s a proven Premier League manager, very nearly won the league with Liverpool, of course, and was successful at Celtic.
“The Club knew they were bringing in someone with real pedigree and it’s come as no surprise to me as he’s a really good guy and knows his football.
“He’s building a really strong, enthusiastic and talented Leicester side. His influence on every part of the Club has been impressive.
“Where he’s very talented is that he approaches each game looking at the opposition and seeing what threat they might pose, sometimes adjusting accordingly.
“When you get to a big game, you play your best team. Everything heavily revolves around Jamie Vardy, you have to bear that in mind and play a formation to get the best out of him.
“We’ve seen three, four and five at the back, two up front, [Kelechi] Iheanacho coming in, and there’s been a lot of tactical changes from the manager.
“But I go back to my main point: when you play the big games, you pick your best formation.
“As an ex-forward, I’ve been a huge fan of Vardy ever since he joined and he’s had another sensational season as top goalscorer.
“James Maddison and Harvey Barnes have been excellent in terms of creation and then you’ve got the effect of Wilfred Ndidi on the team and the whole of the back four have been outstanding.
“I’ve not even mentioned the goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel. It’s been a real fantastic team effort to get the Club where they are, there’s been five or six outstanding players.”