Brendan Rodgers is doing an exemplary job in charge of Leicester City, but the real test of his capabilities will come next season as they will almost certainly have Europe to contend with. Everyone knows how rapidly results dropped off the last time the Foxes qualified for the Champions League and there was a multitude of reasons, Rodgers must learn from Claudio Ranieri’s mistakes to ensure he doesn’t suffer the same fate.
Firstly, he will have to increase the depth at his disposal to contend with the demand in fixtures. Currently, he has an outstanding starting eleven, but there is a sharp drop off in talent beyond his regular starters. When Ranieri was forced to rotate his squad, it produced catastrophic results, leaving the side on the brink of relegation when he was sacked.
Recruitment must be more intelligent than last time they had a sharp influx of cash when they recruited Islam Slimani for £27 million and Ahmed Musa for £17 million. Both players failed to make an impact and were quickly moved on at losses. Though it must be said Wilfred Ndidi was an incredibly astute piece of business who remains integral to the side, and there have been less slip-ups in the market of late.
Though Jamie Vardy is an absolute talisman for the club and in the form of his career, a protégé to his throne at the King Power Stadium must be found. There is no way at 33 he will be able to start every Premier League and European clash, and Kelechi Iheanacho has fallen out of favour at Leicester. Next term would be a sensible time to find a striker who Vardy can help nurture, without currently threatening the Premier League’s top scorer’s regular starting berth.
When the recruited players do arrive, Rodgers will need to make sure everyone at the club maintains focus on domestic duties as well as their European adventure. In 2016-17 the distractions of the Champions League were all too obvious as the Foxes cruised through their group but floundered in the Premier League. While it will be just as exciting this time around and they boast a more talented squad, Rodgers will probably not have a title-winning hangover to contend with which should work in his favour.
If the serial Scottish Premier League-winning manager does need any inspiration, he should look no further than the excellent progress Wolves have made under Nuno Espirito Santo. In spite of a difficult start to the season, they have turned their domestic form around to sit fifth and sit second in their Europa League group.
For Rodgers, should this progress continue, the Foxes will be arriving at a crossroads. And vitally, if the club are to progress and not regress as they did after winning the Premier League title, astute business in the market will be crucial for the East Midlands side to continue their astounding development in the Scotsman’s era at the King Power.
