BRENDAN RODGERS will motivate his Leicester side with the promise of an exciting 2020.
The Foxes manager reckons a Wembley appearance and a Champions League spot are up for grabs in the new year.
Brendan Rodgers is delighted with how the season is going so far for Leicester – but is determined for more in 2020Credit: Reuters
He will tell his players as much and admits to feeling “ecstatic” about his team’s position at the halfway point of the season.
Leicester’s hopes of pushing Liverpool for the title suffered a blow when they drew at home to Norwich before being beaten at Manchester City.
But Rodgers insists there is plenty to play for — they go into Christmas sitting in second place in the Prem and can look forward to a two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final tie with Aston Villa.
Leicester host leaders Liverpool at the King Power on Boxing Day and Rodgers says the big picture is healthy for his men.
The Northern Irishman said: “This is a really exciting period for us.
“I’ve always said that until you get to February-March time, you’re fighting to get into position.
“But if you’d asked me in August, would we be second in the league and in a League Cup semi-final, I’d have been absolutely ecstatic.
“And then to have played how we’ve played, in that style, of course that makes me very proud of the team and their development.
“But it’s only the first part of the season, we now have to push on in the second part.”
Rodgers says it would be special for some of his squad to get their hands on silverware this season.
The ex-Liverpool and Celtic boss added: “For the guys who wouldn’t have won anything, to get their hands on a trophy will give them a feeling and a mentality to want to do it more.
“But there is so much work, and sustainable work, that needs to be done.
“We have arrived at a semi-final. It will be a tough semi- final over two legs and then we want to be able to get to final. Then we’re in with a chance.
“A trophy is something tangible to show, even if you know you’re progressing. We want to bring our true game against Liverpool.”
Leicester have a great chance of reaching the Carabao Cup final and the Champions League next yearCredit: AFP or licensors
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
