How Brendan Rodgers has transformed Leicester City

Possession with purpose

One thing that’s most definitely changed is the possession. Statistically, there are not many changes. Leicester dominate the ball at home and often sacrifice it away for a more counter-attacking style. What’s changed is the purpose behind the possession. Puel was an advocate of safety possession: look to progress the ball if given the opportunity, but if it doesn’t arise, take an easy pass inside or behind to retain possession; recycle the ball and hope to eventually cause a gap in the opposing defence. That was unsuccessful too often.

With Rodgers, there’s a purpose. Youri Tielemans and James Maddison very rarely take the “safety possession” route. they would much rather make the risky pass and hope it works than let play stagnate by going backward. Puel almost always played with a 4-3-3, with the wingers told to stay high and wide. Rodgers goes for a flexible 4-1-4-1, with the wide midfielders playing a lot closer to the full-backs. This allows for the play to progress out wide a lot easier. It’s the most obvious reason Ricardo Pereira and Chilwell have been so successful since the Irishman took charge.

Not to mention the reinstated belief that’s now pulsing through the squad. For a time, Puel was able to achieve just that as well, but slowly, as the performances dropped and results followed, the belief of the fans and players alike began to drop. Losing the belief of your players is detrimental to your job, they’re the ones who will win you games and it was transparent at the end of his time with Leicester that the squad had given up on him.