Matchday Live Talking Points: A Learning Curve & Looking Ahead
- Leicester City fell to a 2-0 second leg defeat by Slavia Prague at Leicester City Stadium on Thursday evening
- The Foxes exit the UEFA Europa League at the last 32 stage, while Slavia progress into the Round of 16
- Tony Cottee, Gerry Taggart and Matt Elliott gave their post-match thoughts during LCFC TV's Matchday Live show
A 2-0 home defeat to Slavia Prague at Leicester City Stadium in the second leg of the last 32 tie sent the Czech Republic champions through to the next round of the competition, at the expense of the Foxes.
Reflecting on the action, as part of LCFC TV's free Matchday Live coverage, Cottee, Taggart and Elliott were on hand post-match to discuss all of the key talking points and look ahead to Sunday's Premier League fixture with Arsenal (12pm kick-off GMT).
A blip in the road
Matt Elliott said: "Leicester did not seem at their brightest, at their sharpest, in either leg. There were external reasons for that, possibly, but the motivation that the Czech side have shown has helped them to achieve their goal. Leicester still have an amount of injuries that is affecting decision making and team selection, I'd like to think it was more of a blip than anything else and Leicester can stir themselves again at the weekend in what is a vitally important game against Arsenal."
Learn from the experience
Gerry Taggart said: "We speak about the players that are missing, it is a big miss, there's no trying to hide around that. We need as many players back and available as soon as possible that are just on the periphery of being fit. The sooner they get back, the better for the rest of the games this season. They'll lick their wounds and we've seen it this season when they take a bit of a knock and then they are straight back on it and go on the winning trail again. You go away and you learn from this experience."
Aiming for an immediate response
Tony Cottee said: "They couldn't have a better game to bounce back into. Arsenal at home, they don't need any motivation or anything at all, it's a massive game coming up at the weekend. I think that's what Brendan [Rodgers] will focus on very quickly. Probably even tonight in the dressing room, there's no point in dwelling on it, it isn't going to change it. You're out the cup, you didn't play very well and you deservedly lost the game. You've got to be honest sometimes."
Regroup and go again
Matt Elliott said: "They've got to remind themselves of what they are capable of and what they have been capable of for a while because that was below par from everyone. One game shouldn't have too dramatic of an effect on them. Collectively they've got to regroup and regather and go at Arsenal, because they've got their own struggles, but they have quality throughout the ranks and they are going to be stiff opposition again. Leicester are going to have to be up for it and come up with a bit more spark about their play to get a result."
Returning to league action
Gerry Taggart said: "The one thing for sure come Sunday is that Arsenal will not want to be coming up the M1 to Leicester. They know what good form they are in, in the league, and this is not going to be an easy game for them. Yes, we're missing one or two players that probably would start if they were fit, but there have been games this season where Brendan Rodgers has not had three of four players available that he would love to have had in the team and the players have gone out and produced the goods."
Looking ahead
Tony Cottee said: "The players have got to deal with it, they've got to accept what has happened tonight and they've got to get their heads down in training over the next couple of days and then you start to rebuild. You've got a massive game coming up and that's followed by games against three teams that are in a relegation struggle, so there's a case to be made to argue that there are points to be won in all these games. Then you go into the big game against Manchester United in the FA Cup, so it's a group of wonderful games for Leicester."