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Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has once again defended his decision to replace Kelechi Iheanacho at half-time in the Foxes’ 4-1 defeat at Bournemouth on Sunday, reports Completesports.com.
Iheanacho, who had a hand in Jamie Vardy’s opening goal in the 23rd minute was replaced by Dennis Praet.
Rodgers’s side controlled the game in the first half, but capitulated after the break, conceding four times.
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The Northern Irishman said that the decision to replace Iheanacho with Praet was a tactical one after Sunday’s game and is not willing to change his mind.
“Last week I was told we had the most impact from
subs. A week later, I’m too negative. I made the change
and primarily throughout the season, Kel has been an
impact player for us,” Rodgers told a news conference on Tuesday.
” It wasn’t necessarily a negative
substitution. I’ll go on the feel of the game. I’ll continue
to analyse games as I do.”
Iheanacho has scored five goals in 18 league appearances for the Foxes this season.
By Adeboye Amosu
10 Comments
Reading through this report, gives a strong feeling Rodgers is getting lots of sticks for not trusting Nachos talent. We’ll see how things pans out at the end.
Keep explaining, it is becoming clear to everybody that your not giving Kelechi, a player in a good form, enough time is now seriously affecting the club. You are always patient with Vardy, but hauls off Kelechi at every little seeming mistake. What does it profit you if Vardy wins the highest goal scorer and you fail to retain your top 4 position.
Be wise and give the young man more oppourtunity and he will repay you even more with goals and assists. We know what he can do when in form.
And to you Kelechi, be wise and look for a club that will trust you enough to start for them. Even if it is a lower club or outside England.
Kelechi has proven himself already this season that he’s a very effective forward when in form. Truly Rodgers has been getting the sticks for not trusting him enough especially when Leicester falters every time he hurriedly haul him off. I have absolutely no idea how Kelechi was replaced at half time in that Bournemouth game despite his work rate in the first half where Leicester controls the game until they capitulated spectacularly after his removal. He’s been really fantastic playing on the right side of Vardy with Ayoze in the front three. He will either score or provide an assist in those situations, but because the coach doesn’t trust him enough, and that has really affected Leicester’s chances of retaining a top four finish this season. Despite Vardy’s goals Kelechi has been the main reason Leicester are pushing for a top four finish this season with 10 goals and 5 assist in all competitions despite only averaging 45 minutes per game.
This couch should think about this:
the media and every one was impressed by how he manage games and subs,but why are the question his decitions now?
the truth is Nacho has found his form and every one is seeing alot of goals in him but the coach is not giving him time to score them.
I heard newcastle wants him.
let him jxt move on.
I think the problem lies with his agent. Is it still his father marketing him?
The agent (a) may not be telling Kelechi the truth. IF YOU DON’T PLAY, BOY, YOU’RE NOT IN THE GAME. WE’LL GET YOU INTO A CLUB YOU CAN PLAY.
(b) the agent has been bullied by Leicester’s management. He could find a way out of this, if the player’s progress is of the utmost interest to him.
It seems clear to us that Kelechi must muster the courage to leave Leicester soonest.
But sadly,Nacho is content with staying put at Leicester city.
Kel will not leave the UK now for another club unless he get another premier league club in the UK.
Dude is almost due for his British passport next year after working in UK for the past 4 years plus.This is part of retirement planning.
Watch how dude will be very mobile next year after bagging his British passport. That is why he is tolerating all this from Rodgers
That coach should be sacked if he doesn’t make top 4..
How on earth should iheancho be the first to be replaced when he was the one who provided the only goal scored by vardy.. How so quick to sub the young man.. The coach got what he deserved. Top4 would only be achieved if a miracle can occur.
I still do think it comes down to the Brendan Rodgers’ confidence in Iheanacho. It’s all about perspective. Does the coach still think highly of him to last the distance? I think it’s up to Nacho, he has his work cut out for him. He has to make the most of every second, minute he gets given that Vardy is irreplaceable at the moment and he’s carries Leicester goal scoring burden. For those advising Kelechi to fancy his chance of playing time elsewhere, this Covid period isn’t the best time for teams to move around, he needs to think it through. He still has a fighting chance at Leicester to maintain and keep his starter’s shirt.
While I support squad rotation, at this time, Leicester need results. And the subbing of Kelechi against Bournemouth is tough to explain. How do you remove someone who is doing really well in a game you need to win? What tactical reasons justify such a substitution? Apart from Kelechi’s subbing, Leicester’s defensive performance especially in the second half was poor. And the sending off of Soyuncu made matters worse. Soyuncu left the pitch in the 67 minute, and the goal deluge began, with Leicester shipping 3 goals in the next 15 minutes!!!
Kelechi has definitely entered a rich vein of form recently, grabbing goals and assists. I agree that he seems to be more productive when deployed on the right wing. This is the same position he excelled at in the U-17 world cup we won.
In the Nigeria setup, Kelechi or Chukwueze would be great for the right wing position. With Ejuke or Kalu coming from the left.
Also, Rodgers should be taking more advantage of Kelechi’s ability with freekicks. Leicester don’t have a freekick specialist currently, and Kelechi could fill that void.