EPL

'That statement wasn't from Wesley Fofana' – Rodgers backs former Leicester defender

By Sports Desk September 01, 2022

Brendan Rodgers believes someone else was behind Wesley Fofana's parting shot at him following the defender's move to Chelsea.

Fofana completed his long-awaited switch from Leicester City to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, signing a seven-year contract after a deal in the region of £75million was struck.

The build up to the defender's departure was not entirely amicable, with Fofana made to train with Leicester's under-23 squad after professing his desire to join Chelsea.

Rodgers declared he was "not in the right frame of mind" to play for the Foxes, and in a message addressing Leicester's supporters on Wednesday, Fofana accused his former manager of trying to "expose" him.

However, Rodgers thinks there is more than meets the eye about his statement.

"It clearly is difficult; I'll always defend players and I'll defend Wesley," he said on BT Sport before Leicester's Premier League clash with Manchester United on Thursday.

"There's a lot of noise out there about him and what was said.

"I never get too emotional with words; I try to look at the logic of it. I know where the statement came from and it is not Wesley Fofana.

"This kid is a good kid. We brought him in here and nobody knew him really. He came here, we gave him a great platform and he was amazing.

"We hoped he would stay on for another year before he moved on, but he has taken the possibility to go. It is a shame for us, and a shame how it ended a little bit.

"For me, he's a good guy and I know probably other influences have taken him away from the club."

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    "It's not good, it's a serious injury," said Cooper ahead of their match against Chelsea on Saturday.

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    "Albeit, it can be quite common in sport, and in particular football, but it's still a serious injury.

    "For it to happen at a young age is a blow for him and a blow for us as well.

    "He's obviously a big talent and a young player, as exciting as he can be at his age, with lots to learn.

    "It's only a pause, and we will make sure, as difficult as it is at the moment for him, that he comes back being a stronger player and person, which, with the mentality and character that he has, I think will be the case."

  • Maresca confirms James will miss Leicester clash with hamstring injury Maresca confirms James will miss Leicester clash with hamstring injury

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    "We have just one injured player and that's Reece, who unfortunately felt something small in training two days ago, and we don't want to take a risk for the weekend," he said.

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  • Maresca feels regret at Joao Felix's lack of Premier League game time Maresca feels regret at Joao Felix's lack of Premier League game time

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    Having kept just one clean sheet in 11 league games, Cooper is also aware of where his side need to improve.

    "We're not going to hide away from the chances and goals we're conceding, and we'll keep showing intent to improve that," he said.

    PLAYERS TO WATCH

    Leicester – Jamie Vardy

    Vardy is 37 years old, but tops the scoring charts at Leicester having netted four goals in the Premier League.

    He has opened the scoring on one occasion this season and has a conversion rate of 33.33% having scored his goals from 12 shots on goal.

    Chelsea – Cole Palmer

    Palmer ranks fifth in the Premier League top scorers so far this season, having scored seven goals. He also ranks equal-second for goal involvements, having added five assists alongside his goals.

    The Chelsea forward has had at least three shots in five of his last six league games and ranks fourth for total shots in the Premier League with 36.

    MATCH PREDICTION: CHELSEA WIN

    Chelsea earned a 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal in their last match before the international break, which left them third in the table and four points behind second-placed Manchester City

    That draw means that Chelsea have lost just one of their last 10 league games (W5 D4), which came against league leaders Liverpool in October.

    Chelsea have lost just one of their last seven away games against Leicester (W4 D2), winning four of their last five meetings overall.

    Leicester are winless in their last 13 Premier League games against sides starting the day in the top four of the table (D3 L10). They come into this with three defeats in their last four matches in all competitions (D1).

    OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

    Leicester – 19%

    Draw – 21.6%

    Chelsea – 59.5%

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