Brendan Rodgers reveals true extent of Leicester demise with cutting quip at club owners

Brendan Rodgers cut a disconsolate figure after Leicester lost to Manchester United and hopes the end of the transfer window will see his side regain focus.

The Foxes remain rooted to the foot of the Premier League table after going down 1-0 at King Power Stadium. Jadon Sancho’s assured finish on 23 minutes was the difference between the sides as United moved up to fifth. Leicester rarely troubled United keeper David de Gea.

And, although they scored just one goal, there was a sense that the visitors were always in control of the contest.

The East Midlanders have yet to win this season. But Rodgers felt his charges did enough to take a point.

“I thought we were unfortunate to lose the game. The players gave everything. Their intensity and energy was good,” he told BBC Sport. “We are disappointed with the goal, it was a little bit naive. We come out and the ball goes long. It left us open.

“The players kept going and we had opportunities. It is just a final bit of craft in the final third that we lacked.

“But I can’t fault them for effort or mentality in the game. They gave everything. The spirit was there. We are just disappointed to lose a game we should have taken something from.”

Rodgers opens up on transfer window woes

Having secured back-to-back fifth-place finishes, Leicester finished eighth last term after an underwhelming campaign. But, with just a solitary point from the first five matches in 2022-2023, there are clearly problems.

Defender Wesley Fofana has departed to Chelsea after much speculation while a number of other stars were linked with exits. And Rodgers is hopeful of a revival now that he knows which players he will have until January.

“It is a poor start, that is the reality for us. We have circumstances that haven’t helped us, that is for sure,” he added. “And we won’t hide, I certainly won’t as it is my responsibility. We need to pick up our results.

“The window closing hopefully brings that focus and mentality back as one. We keep fighting. We just lack quality and we weren’t able to do anything about that in the window.”

Lack of investment irks Rodgers

The Northern Irishman has tried to remain tactful when talking about the state of the club. But he let slip his true feelings on the way things have developed when speaking to BBC Radio 5Live.

“This isn’t the club that it was two years ago. That’s the reality,” he said. “We haven’t brought any new players in, bar one late on, in the last two windows and that’s a replacement.

“So these players need the supporters. It’s a moment that’s really important.”

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