Rodgers Credits Leicester's Attacking Exploits

- Leicester City fought out an entertaining 3-3 draw with Queens Park Rangers on Saturday
- Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Patson Daka and Kelechi Iheanacho found the net in City's third friendly
- Manager Brendan Rodgers enjoyed the attacking nature of Leicester's performance in the second half
- The Northern Irishman also discusses Daka's performance, Harvey Barnes' fitness and pre-season 

Backed by almost 2,000 members of the Blue Army, Leicester came from two goals down in west London through efforts from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Patson Daka, before Kelechi Iheanacho struck from the penalty spot to rescue a draw after Rangers had regained their lead. 

Rodgers was able to offer some, including Youri Tielemans and Harvey Barnes, their first minutes of the summer, after competing in UEFA EURO 2020 and returning from injury respectively, while also making nine changes on the hour mark in Shepherd's Bush.

Speaking afterwards, the Foxes manager described the benefits of bringing players back into the side, in a phased manner, while also praising the efforts of the players who remained on the pitch into the latter moments – with City scoring three goals in 14 minutes.

"It was great for the supporters," Rodgers told LCFC TV at full-time. "I thought you could see, in the first half, that some of our players have just been back a week or so training and they were not up to the speed of it, but it was important to get minutes into their legs.

"For the likes of Ayo (Ayoze Pérez) and Barnesy (Harvey Barnes), it was important for them to get the minutes. Then I had great joy watching the second half team. [They were] fearless and running and pressing and working and, obviously, Patson [Daka] gets his first goal.

"That is always important for a striker. Kiernan [Dewsbury-Hall] had a great finish and he's been outstanding for me over the course of pre-season.

"Kels (Kelechi Iheanacho) gets his one from the penalty and it was, overall, very good. QPR are a good side. You can see they’re a little bit ahead of us in terms of fitness so far. But overall, I was delighted with the game."

Rodgers was pleased to see new signing Daka open his account for the Club with a well-taken effort – Leicester's second of the afternoon – after impressive midfield play from Marc Albrighton.

"It was great ability by Albrighton," the Northern Irishman continued. "From wide, he's cut inside and he's made a great pass. He's always looking to penetrate the line with the pass and Patson, when he’s away, it was like everything we've seen when we've watched him.

"As soon as he’s in that goalscoring position, he's so calm and not even thinking, even though he's right footed, he just slots it away with his left foot.

"You see that natural goalscoring instinct and then his speed to get to the ball for the penalty, I never thought he was going to get there, but he showed great pace. He won the penalty, so it was a good performance by him.

"I think that's what he is, he's a goalscorer. I thought him and Kels combined very, very well. They were looking for each other and some of their play was exceptional. The goalscorers, I think when it hits the back of the net, it gives them confidence and gives them that energy."

On Barnes' return from a knee injury, sustained last February, Rodgers added: "You can see he's not quite at his physical best yet. But some of his touches and some of the runs that he made, he's such a threat for us, so we’re delighted to have him back."

Ahead of City's final pre-season friendly of the summer – against Villarreal at King Power Stadium on Wednesday (7:45pm BST kick-off) – Rodgers says he has been encouraged by the application of the squad. Now, though, he is looking to see their work develop further ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

"I think that what you look for in pre-season is the attitude and application of the players and that's been very good," the 48-year-old explained. "We still have a lot of work to do. Obviously, our main aim is the first game against Wolves.

"We’ve got another good couple of weeks worth of work to fit in but overall, I've been absolutely delighted with them. Today, we got our first goals of pre-season as well. The first few games were really about getting that physicality, getting that defensive work in.

"As I said, once they get fitter and stronger over the next couple of weeks, the attacking and the defensive side hopefully all comes together."