Elliott: Rodgers Fuels City With Real Confidence

First Team
18 Mar 2020
2 Minutes
Former Leicester City captain Matt Elliott has praised the leadership of manager Brendan Rodgers throughout the 2019/20 season to date.

- Brendan Rodgers has provided Leicester City with 'real confidence' in their ability, says Matt Elliott
- The former Foxes captain says the Northern Irishman's methods in training are paying dividends
- Rodgers' past experiences continue to strengthen City's chances of success, Elliott believes

The Foxes have enjoyed several landmark victories, twice breaking the Club's record for their biggest-ever Premier League victory, while also embarking on an eight-game winning run.

In 48 matches since Rodgers' appointment in February 2019, the Northern Irishman has overseen 26 victories, giving him a 54 per cent win ratio at King Power Stadium.

For Elliott, who after an eight-year career at the Club now closely follows the current side's progress for LCFC TV and LCFC Radio, Rodgers' management is key to their success.

"Players have come through and established themselves as fully-fledged first team players in the Premier League and the manager has shown his credentials," Elliott said earlier this week.

They recognise what he’s achieved in the game, they trust his work, whether that be on the training pitch or the actual field of play itself, they have faith in his knowledge.

Matt Elliott

"He’s reinforced what people knew about him. He’s led from the front and that’s given real confidence to the players because they’ve got a real direction to their methods.

"They’ve reacted superbly to that. The experience and confidence which Rodgers exudes has rubbed off on the players, you can see that.

"They recognise what he’s achieved in the game, they trust his work, whether that be on the training pitch or the actual field of play itself, they have faith in his knowledge.

"That’s a big thing for players. If you buy into what your manager’s telling you, as an individual and as a collective, it makes a real impact."

Elliott believes the 47-year-old has harnessed the wealth of talent at the Club and energised City's young players into becoming established at Premier League level.

Throughout the season so far, Leicester have played with speed in attacking areas, while also exhibiting an admirable, team-wide defensive organisation which has seen them concede just 28 goals.

Consistent with their placing in the Premier League table, the Foxes have the third-best goal difference in English football's top tier and Elliott says Rodgers deserves a high proportion of the credit.

"He realised, I’m sure, before he even came to the Club what a talented bunch of players that are at Leicester City at the moment," the Club's 2000 League Cup-winning captain continued.

I’m sure the players enjoy being a part of that and Rodgers deserves a lot of credit for that. Leicester have put themselves in a wonderful position.

Matt Elliott

"Even he may be surprised by how well they’ve performed over the course of time, but he’s been able to implement an attractive style of football that is also an effective style.

"I’m sure the players enjoy being a part of that and Rodgers deserves a lot of credit for that. Leicester have put themselves in a wonderful position.

"If you’d have asked anyone if they would take being third in the Premier League at this stage, everyone would have snapped your hands off.

"There were bound to be peaks and troughs. Form goes up and down, but that’s part and parcel of a football club over the course of any season. They've been wonderful for the most part so far."