Rodgers makes honest Leicester admission, Farke argues VAR ‘mistake’

Kasper Schmeichel and Brendan Rodgers after Leicester beat Norwich, August 2021

Brendan Rodgers admitted Leicester aren’t at the level they need to be as they escaped Carrow Road with a narrow win over Norwich.

Jamie Vardy capitalised when new Canaries signing Brandon Williams made a mistake to give the Foxes the lead inside 10 minutes. A Teemu Pukki penalty levelled the score before half-time but Marc Albrighton’s shot, which deflected off Man Utd loanee Williams, restored the lead.

Norwich thought they had a second equaliser when Kenny McLean converted. But VAR overturned the goal due to Todd Cantwell standing in an offside position.

And that decision meant all three points headed back to the King Power. Rodgers recognised it could have been very different, though.

“We didn’t play well, we had to be able to come here and Carrow Road at a three o’clock kick off when the sun is shining is always a difficult ground to come to,” he said to Match of the Day.


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“We showed great resilience especially towards the end. After going in front, the players had to dig in. Throughout the game we had moments of quality and the two moments of real quality we scored.”

The win takes Leicester to six points following the opening day victory against Wolves. That was also a narrow success, though.

And Monday night’s heavy defeat to West Ham, which finished 4-1 to the Hammers, shows the Foxes haven’t hit the ground running with their league season.

Jamie Vardy celebrates after scoring for Leicester against Norwich, August 2021

Rodgers added: “It’s always important [to win today], the squad have shown over the last few years that they do not go on too many runs of losses.

“I am delighted, to have six points out of nine in the first three games and I know over the course of the season with more work patience and more time we will play better.

“We will have to because we are no where near the standards of our football. We are doing it in moments.”

Worst Norwich fears realised

Meanwhile, Norwich have now slumped to three defeats from three, leaving them firmly in the relegation zone.

The only team below them is Arsenal by virtue of goals scored. But having faced three top sides, it comes as no surprise, and boss Daniel Farke was positive about his side’s performance on the day.

Daniel Farke on the sidelines during Norwich vs Leicester, August 2021

“Football can be the cruelest sport in the world,” he said. “I have to come out here and give many, many compliments for this performance today from my players today.

“We played one of the best sides in the league and got the feeling in the second half that we was really, really close to taking this game completely.

“I think [the disallowed goal] is a VAR mistake, for a player to be offside they have be taking part in the game.

“Schmeichel is 10 inches taller than Todd Cantwell and he didn’t disrupt his view. He is just standing in front of him, he doesn’t disrupt his movement. If the cross comes in and McGinn is all alone in the box with Schmeichel he wouldn’t be able to save it anyhow.”

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