Rodgers: An Opportunity To Show Our Capabilities

- Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has reacted to the 2022/22 Premier League fixtures release
- The Foxes will begin the new season at home against Brentford in early August
- Clashes with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are included in City's first five fixtures
- Rodgers is excited to see his side deal with those challenges in the opening weeks of the campaign

In what will be the Club's ninth consecutive top-flight campaign – a run which has included three successive top-eight finishes in previous seasons – City begin the new term at home against Thomas Frank's Brentford outfit at King Power Stadium on the opening weekend.

A trip to Emirates Stadium to tackle Arsenal will be next up for Leicester, who then welcome Southampton to Filbert Way. August ends, meanwhile, with two more fascinating match-ups, starting away at Chelsea, before Manchester United visit the East Midlands. 

That five-game opening excites Rodgers, who has lifted the Emirates FA Cup and the FA Community Shield during his time as Foxes manager. The Northern Irishman believes it can offer a platform for his players to showcase their qualities and provide the Blue Army with more memories to savour. 

Speaking on Thursday morning, the 49-year-old said: “Fixture release day is always an exciting date in the football calendar and one we look forward to each year. It helps to build that sense of anticipation and excitement for our supporters, and of course us as staff and the players too.  

“We’re expecting another competitive and challenging Premier League campaign, and our opening fixture at home against Brentford will be a great test for us. They’re a good team who carry plenty of threats, but we’ve got a talented group who will be looking to start the season positively. 

“To play three of last season’s top six in our opening six games is a challenge for any side, but also an opportunity for us to put a marker down by showing ourselves and our fans what we are capable of as a team.”

Although the 2021/22 season threw up several hurdles for the Foxes to navigate, Rodgers' men nevertheless reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa Conference League – eventually losing out over two legs to AS Roma – and finished eighth in the Premier League.

The former Liverpool and Celtic manager says there are foundations there to be built upon in 2022/23.

“My time at this Football Club so far has been brilliant, and we’ve come a long way in such a short period,” he added. “We’ve grown and developed as a group, and have enjoyed success too, so we’re all eager to continue this journey and build on our work. 

“Last season had its challenges, but overall, we were pleased with our final placing in the Premier League and to secure a third consecutive top-eight finish as well as reach the semi-final of a European competition for the first time were real highlights. There were also several impressive individual performances throughout the campaign, as well as the continued development of some exciting young talent.  

“We’ll be looking to build on that journey once again this season, and I know the players will be doing everything they can to make our supporters happy. Our fans are incredible, and their support, both home and away, doesn’t go unnoticed. 

“After a summer break, we’ll be looking forward to welcoming the players back for pre-season training before we embark on the challenge of another exciting campaign in the Premier League.”