Brendan Rodgers ‘fully committed’ to Leicester as he plays down Manchester United talk
Rodgers has been touted as possible replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford.
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Your support makes all the difference.Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers says speculation linking him with the Manchester United job “is not real”.
Rodgers has been touted as a possible replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should the Norwegian get the sack at Old Trafford.
The former Liverpool manager was asked whether he would be interested in the United role ahead of Saturday’s clash with Chelsea, but was not prepared to engage.
He said: “There’s two things. Firstly it is really disrespectful to ask the question when you have a manager in place, a good manager and a good man, who is working hard at the club.
“Secondly I can’t really comment on it, because it is not something that is real.
“I am here as the Leicester City manager, proud to be here, privileged to be here and fully committed to the players, the club, the ownership. That’s about it, all the other noise around that is something we can’t control.”
It is not the first time the 48-year-old has been the subject of speculation over other jobs during his spell at the King Power Stadium, having been linked to Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle in recent years.
While the gossip does not bother him, he says it can have a destabilising effect.
“It doesn’t frustrate me because my focus is always looking for the next game. The only club I am thinking about is Chelsea and getting ready for that,” Rodgers said.
“It is frustrating for our supporters and also my players, if anyone is to read anything that is out there then that can destabilise. It is something that is the modern game, lots of speculation and gossip, it’s all part of the modern game but it’s not something I have any focus on.”
Rodgers is not the only figure at Leicester who is the subject of speculation.
Veteran goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has said in an interview that he plans to leave the Foxes before retiring, while defender Wesley Fofana has been linked with a move to Chelsea.
Rodgers added: “Speculation and gossip is natural in the modern game. It is the frustrating element of the game.
“Kasper has been such a great servant for the club, he has been first class since I came into here but over the 10 or 11-year period he has been sensational for the club.
“I have got no worries about Kasper’s mentality and commitment. I haven’t seen any of the interviews so I can’t comment on that.
“For both boys, Wesley as well, you see how comfortable they are in the environment. Every player will have ambitions to be at the highest level and want to do that but that doesn’t mean they are always thinking to leave here to do that.
“This is a club that is ambitious and the two players are very committed to doing that and we are a group that has won some silverware and want to see if we can win more. Both those players are first class.”
Youri Tielemans will miss out for Leicester against the European champions along with James Justin, but Marc Albrighton could feature.
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