Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers admits ’empathy’ for Manchester United’s crazy fixture schedule

Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers admits he ‘has empathy’ for Manchester United counterpart Ole Gunnar Solskjaer whose Red Devils side take on the Foxes as part of crazy four games in eight days schedule

  • Manchester United will face Leicester City in their second game in 48 hours
  • Red Devils also played on Sunday having come from behind to beat Aston Villa
  • Now they take on the Foxes in the top flight before facing Liverpool on Thursday 
  • Leicester are hoping to get their Champions League push back on track 

Brendan Rodgers has expressed sympathy with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Manchester United prepare to take on Leicester on Tuesday in their second game in barely 48 hours.

Solskjaer has complained bitterly that United play three times in five days and could make huge changes to his starting XI for a fixture that is vital for Leicester’s hopes of a top-four finish.

Leicester’s surprise defeat by Newcastle last Friday put their hopes in the balance and they also face a tough end to the season. On Saturday they face Chelsea in the FA Cup Final before also meeting Thomas Tuchel’s team in the league and finishing the season with a home game against Tottenham.

Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers takes his team to Manchester United on Tuesday night

The Foxes will be looking to get their push for a Champions League place back on track following a surprise home defeat by Newcastle United in the Premier League on Friday

The Foxes will be looking to get their push for a Champions League place back on track following a surprise home defeat by Newcastle United in the Premier League on Friday

‘I have empathy for Ole,’ said Rodgers. ‘It’s a hell of a schedule to play last Thursday, then Sunday, Tuesday and then Liverpool on Thursday.

‘It’s tough physically for the players – no matter how big a squad you have it’s a difficult turnaround.’

Rodgers will rely heavily on his senior players to ensure Leicester keep their calm as fans worry about a repeat of last season.

United are in the midst of a fixture pile up with a schedule of four games in just eight days

United are in the midst of a fixture pile up with a schedule of four games in just eight days

Solskjaer's is likely to rotate his squad as best he can to ease the demands on his side

Solskjaer’s is likely to rotate his squad as best he can to ease the demands on his side

The Foxes poor form after the spring lockdown saw them drop to fifth on the final day of the season after spending the entire campaign in the top four.

But they were helped by West Ham’s home defeat by Everton on Sunday and will move eight points clear of the fifth-placed Hammers if they can win at Old Trafford. Former United defender Jonny Evans is a doubt after aggravating a heel problem in the warm-up prior to the Newcastle defeat.

Rodgers added: ‘Players like Kasper Schmeichel, Jamie Vardy and Jonny are very experienced. When you are challenging at the top end of the table or for trophies, the concentration level has to increase.

The schedule has seen Harry Maguire pick up an injury during Sunday's win at Aston Villa

The schedule has seen Harry Maguire pick up an injury during Sunday’s win at Aston Villa

‘That’s the hard part this season. If you go loose then you are punished, which is what happened to us on Friday. Our concentration was nowhere near good enough in certain aspects of our defending.

‘We are very close to achieving what we want but we know we have to fight and we have made it difficult for ourselves, that’s the reality. Against Newcastle and Southampton we didn’t get the results we wanted.

‘That means we have to push and look to win our remaining games, starting tonight.’