OneFootball
Dan Burke·7 February 2020
OneFootball
Dan Burke·7 February 2020
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers says he and his players will be enjoying a well earned rest during the winter break.
After their 2-2 draw with Chelsea last weekend, the Foxes are not in action again until they travel to face Wolves in the Premier League on 14 February.
And Rodgers is grateful for the break as he says the hectic fixture schedule has left his squad is “running on empty”.
“They’ll be off now and we’ll give them a clear run through until next weekend so they can have a rest, physically and mentally, and recover from all the exertions of the season so far,” Rodgers said.
“We’ll be back in again next Sunday and be ready for a game on Friday night [at Wolves].
“All players, over the Christmas period until now, have been running on empty.
“Now is the chance for them to not train – they’ll do some training while they’re away, they’ll get a programme to do – but to physically and mentally recover, that’s important.
“It breaks the cycle, that’s why at times in the season you go away to different places to train, with the sun or whatever. The players have physically put so much in over the period.
“At this stage of the season, it’s come at the right time for us.
“For managers, it’s the same, you need to go away and recover a bit from the pressures, come back and be revitalised and ready to make the final push.”
And Rodgers is also hoping the winter break will be a good opportunity for Jamie Vardy to recover from a couple of niggling injuries sustained last month.
“He looked much better [against Chelsea],” added Rodgers.
“He played during the week [at Aston Villa] so he was getting a little bit tired towards the end, but he’s just a constant threat against the backline. He had a chance in the first half that he normally takes.
“[The break] will be nice for him and for all the players.
“They’ll do some physical work while they’re away, then we’ll get back, happy to see each other, and hopefully finish the job.”
Vardy hasn’t scored since Christmas, going seven games in all competitions without finding the net.