Rodgers: A Really Professional Display

- Leicester City sealed a 2-1 victory over AEK Athens in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday
- Jamie Vardy and Hamza Choudhury found the net for the Foxes at Athens Olympic Stadium
- Manager Brendan Rodgers was delighted by the professionalism of his side's display
- The Northern Irishman also highlighted the youthfulness of his side in Greece

Goals from Jamie Vardy, from the penalty spot, and Hamza Choudhury, on his full European debut, were eventually enough for City, despite Muamer Tanković's second-half effort.

As a result, the Foxes sit top of the Group G ahead of a double-header of fixtures against S.C. Braga over the coming weeks, a side who have also won their opening two group stage matches.

Speaking afterwards in the Greek capital, Rodgers outlined the importance of Leicester maintaining composure, especially as the Greek hosts began to push for an equaliser after the break.

"I'm very pleased," the Northern Irishman told LCFC TV at full-time. "It was a different type of performance. The pitch was really, really poor. You maybe couldn't see that on TV.

"It was very, very bumpy and wasn't conducive, really, for good football, but we were 2-0 up at half-time and then for them, they had nothing then to lose, going into the second half.

"We nearly go 3-0 up, which kills the game, instead a few minutes later, they get the 2-1 so that gives them some momentum for 15/20 minutes and then you've got to be really strong.

"But by the end, I thought it was really professional. [We had] two other chances ourselves in the game to wrap it up. But when they don't go in, you have to be concentrated, resolute, and we did that.

"I'm very proud of the team because like I say, we're a team based along playing fast football, but when you can't, it's important that you can see the game through and we did that very well."

To see City's younger players, including Academy graduates Choudhury, Luke Thomas and Harvey Barnes, all have an impact on the game was also a source of pride for Rodgers in Athens.

"That's a real pleasing aspect of how the team is growing and developing," he continued. "You know, there's a real maturity in how we play.

"Kasper [Schmeichel] came up with big moments, some big blocks in the game and you think of how young this team is as well, so this experience for them, coming away, getting the result... it's very, very good and this will be great for their confidence."