Our Defending Had To Be Exceptional, Says Rodgers
- Brendan Rodgers reflects on Leicester City’s 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers
- The City manager praised the Foxes’ defensive efforts at King Power Stadium
- Jamie Vardy fired home the winner in the first period
The Foxes opened their 2021/22 Premier League season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at King Power Stadium, courtesy of Jamie Vardy’s excellent first-half strike.
City had to show their defensive qualities in the second period, and Rodgers was pleased with the way his side were able to grind out the success.
“I’m delighted,” he told LCFC TV. “I thought it was a hard-earned win, they always are against Wolves. We’ve played them a lot these last few seasons and they’ve always been close games. I was really pleased with the football in the first half.
“We scored a very, very good goal – [we were] unfortunate not to score more. In the second half, we had to defend a little bit more, but the players really showed the spirit in the team.
“Some of the blocks, some of the defending that they had to do, obviously Wolves were chasing the game. They were throwing bodies forward, so our defending was exceptional in that period.
“It was hard earned, a great three points, and we’re delighted for the supporters to be back in.”
City’s winner came from the right boot of Vardy, however the assist was just as impressive after Ricardo Pereira breezed past João Moutinho and Marçal before locating the No.9 in the box.
Rodgers said: “He was unfortunate today, Jamie, not to get more than one. Had had a lot of opportunities, but his goal was a real top striker’s goal.
“Ricky (Ricardo Pereira) does brilliantly on the side. It was a great piece of skill, cuts in, makes the cross and it’s a great finish by Jamie.
“It was wonderful improvisation, and he sticks it away so well.”
Providing further insight into Leicester’s tactics against Wolves, Rodgers explained why his selection of formation helped combat the opposition’s advances.
“I feel like when you play against that system, it can really stretch you,” he added. “We played against 3-4-3 in the first game after pre-season and you’re not at your full fitness physically, so I felt that to then block out the space… we’d prepared and talked about it as a team.
“To go to a 3-5-2 would help us defend, and also give us an extra striker when we could break out. We had chances to score and make it more comfortable.
“We didn’t quite make the right pass or made the wrong decision, but overall, as a team, we showed our mentality and that’s what really pleased me in the second half.”