Brendan Rodgers’ praises Leicester City’s mentality

Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers has praised his side’s mentality after they progressed to the semi-final of the Carabao Cup with a penalty shootout win over Everton.

The Foxes had been completely dominant in the first-half as James Maddison and Jonny Evans scored a goal each in a four-minute spell to take a 2-0 lead.

However, the hosts hit back late in the game, with Tom Davies volleying the Toffees back into contention before Leighton Baines scored a sumptuous equaliser in stoppage time.

Once it became 2-2 and it was time for penalties, there were fears of a repeat of the previous seasons, when Leicester have had to exit at the same stage in the same fashion.

Kasper Schmeichel, though, had other plans. The Danish shot-stopper was brilliant in the shootout and ensured that Leicester moved a step closer to Wembley.

There was no holding back Rodgers after that.

"“I thought we were much the better team,” said Rodgers.“First half, we had good control of the game, we managed the game well. We scored two very good goals and maybe could have had more. We weren’t under any threat.“The second half we started okay, should have gone 3-0 up, and were unfortunate to hit the bar.“Then we waited on the game a little bit and out of nowhere they got the goal for 2-1.“Even at 2-1 we were pretty comfortable. We were not having too many problems. Out of nowhere Leighton scores an amazing goal.“We had to clear our heads. We felt we were the better team but we had to show it on penalties. In fairness they took the penalties really well and Kasper made the saves. I felt we deserved to go through.“It’s about reframing the mind again when you concede so late on. We did our work yesterday on penalties. It’s brilliant for the players, for them to make the semi-finals.“That’s what you’re paid for [refocusing the players’ minds]. At the end of it, pull them in recognise that we should have won it, but we haven’t and it’s gone.“You can’t do anything about it now. So there’s no point getting too down. Now we’ve got to win it on penalties and the players showed a top mentality to do that.”"

Leicester have got over a huge mental block by overcoming Everton at Goodison Park. It’s never an easy place to go to, especially in a game of such importance.

The fans were boisterous all night and when that is the case, it can get difficult for the players, particularly when they have mental baggage from the past.

Leicester City could have easily been rattled after Baines’ goal but full marks to them, they responded very calmly and went through. It was needed, too, seeing as they play Manchester City next.

Rodgers is going to need a lot of that spirit at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.