Rodgers: We Must Continue To Work

- Brendan Rodgers offers his thoughts on Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League defeat by Chelsea
- Harvey Barnes scored for the Foxes at Stamford Bridge
- Raheem Sterling’s double was enough for the 10-man Blues to claim the points

After Conor Gallagher’s first-half dismissal, City had momentum on their side heading into the interval, however Raheem Sterling struck twice for the Blues to hand them a 2-0 advantage at Stamford Bridge.

Leicester rallied and pulled one back through Harvey Barnes, making his 150th appearance for the Club across all formats, before Jamie Vardy hit the side-netting and Ayoze Pérez struck the crossbar.

“We’re disappointed not to [take a point],” Rodgers explained to LCFC TV. “Lots of really good moments in the game for us, just decisive moments in the game… I thought we started the second half a little bit passive, and then we go a goal behind, which makes it difficult against 10 [men], and then we go two [behind].

“In fairness to that, the players’ reaction was good in the game. We fight back, and then it was really, really unfortunate not to score. The ‘keeper makes some great saves and we’ve also hit the bar. There were other moments where we scored, so yes, it’s disappointing not to have taken at least a point.

“I said [at full-time]: ‘Listen, it’s a defeat for us, and it’ll hurt’. At this stage of the season, we wanted to make a better start than we have done, however, at least I can see the rhythm getting back in the team.

“Like I say, we just need to continue to work and not give away the opportunities that we have done. We didn’t concede so much, but that shot outside the box is the third in four games, so we need to go and press that much better and not allow the shot to come in.”

Gallagher’s red card meant Chelsea had to play with a one-man deficit for over an hour in London, and while City enjoyed more possession, goal attempts and big chances, they were unable to capitalise.

Rodgers said when taking on a team with 10 men: “It's still difficult, it doesn’t matter. When you’re attacking them, they still have 10 players behind the ball.

“Obviously, it’s something that can work for or against you, but I thought that we played against the 10 [men] well.

“Apart from the goals that we gave away, I thought we worked quite well, and created opportunities. We just couldn’t score.

“We were able to sustain the attacks. I thought Harvey was brilliant for us on the left side. He scored a great goal, and he was the threat for us on a lot of the really good moments, and on this side, we combine and get our crosses in, but we just couldn’t manage to get at least the equaliser.”