Brendan Rodgers speaks on James Maddison’s early substitution as Leicester City triumph in Europa League
Leicester dispatch Legia Warsaw; Group C destiny in their hands
Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City earned a critical Europa League win last night against Polish outfit Legia Warsaw at the King Power Stadium last night as the Foxes ran out 3-1 winners, allowing them to wrestle control of their own destiny as current Group C leaders with one matchday remaining.
G⚽️⚽️⚽️d morning, Blue Army 🙌 pic.twitter.com/qBL05PyEop
— Leicester City (@LCFC) November 26, 2021
The Northern Irishman fielded a full-strength squad against Legia and they duly delivered on the night, jumping to a 2-0 lead in the first 21-minutes of the evening.
It was a much-needed three-point haul for the Foxes, who must now close out group play with an away day in southern Italy against a talented SSC Napoli outfit that are level on points with Spartak Moscow, just one point adrift of Leicester as proceedings will unquestionably come down to the final night with three points being all the Foxes need to secure their status as group winners and passage into the knockout stages.
Rodgers comments on Maddison’s early removal
James Maddison’s Man of the Match performance last night for Leicester City was a sight for sore eyes at the King Power Stadium.
ROME, ITALY – NOVEMBER 25: James Maddison of Leicester City celebrates with teammate Patson Daka after scoring their side’s second goal during the UEFA Europa League group C match between Leicester City and Legia Warszawa at The King Power Stadium on November 25, 2021 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
The England international has hardly been himself this season, netting just one goal in twelve Premier League appearances this season, but his influence last night was magnificent as he scored what amounted to the match-winner for Leicester’s second while adding an assist in Wilfried Ndidi’s strike that put the Foxes two goals to the good in a comfortable 3-1 lead.
But Rodgers made sure to dispel any notion that Maddison was removed for any fresh injury concern;
“I thought he was very good. He was obviously restricted a little bit with the knock he took. We just decided to take him off and make the change, but overall, I thought he was very good.”
If the James Maddison of old is back in the flesh, then Leicester could be on the cusp of charging back up the table in what has otherwise been a highly disappointing season.
