Brendan Rodgers urges his players to embrace a big-club mentality as Leicester boss targets victory over Chelsea and top spot in the Premier League
- Leicester have shown again that they belong among the elite this season
- Foxes are third in the table, two points adrift of leaders Manchester United
- Rodgers wants his players to feel the pressure to perform at the top level
Brendan Rodgers urged his Leicester players to embrace a big-club mentality as they seek the win over Chelsea that will take them top of the Premier League.
After spending the vast majority of last season in the top four, the Foxes have shown again that they belong among the elite by claiming 35 points from their opening 18 games to move third in the table, two points adrift of leaders Manchester United.
Rodgers understands the pressure of working at a top club having managed both Liverpool and Celtic and he wants his squad to act as though they are operating under similar scrutiny.
Brendan Rodgers wants his Leicester players to feel the pressure to perform at the top level
‘We are in the race, we are competing and we are consistently up there,’ said Rodgers. ‘We are enjoying the race and enjoying the challenge.
‘There’s maybe not the same expectation at Leicester as Liverpool and Celtic, which are huge institutions. But what I’ve tried to do from day one is deliver a message for us to feel that pressure to perform.
‘We know our budget is different to what a so-called top-six club’s would be but I want us to feel that pressure to keep pushing and developing. That will never lessen in me.
Jamie Vardy should be fit to face Chelsea at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday night
‘The people and fans at Leicester are realistic but the club showed it when they won the title in 2015-16 that everything is possible, and that sense of realism should never stop us dreaming.
‘I’ve always liked being around the top echelons of the league and if you come in each day trying to be better, you never know where it can take you. I’ve always tried to sell that message to my payers.
‘We are happy in the race and hopefully this year we’ll show we can keep going and improving.’
Leicester are confident Jamie Vardy will be fit to start despite their top scorer complaining of his ongoing hip problem during the closing stages of Saturday’s 2-0 win over Southampton.
