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‘I’m not a magician’: Brendan Rodgers sends a message to the Leicester board, insisting it is a ‘real challenge’ to compete with Newcastle, Aston Villa and West Ham, who have all spent big money.
- Leicester have had a dip in form this season and sit 13th in the table.
- The Foxes play big-spending Newcastle in the Carabao Cup quarter-final
- Brendan Rodgers has lamented the purchasing power of Leicester’s rivals
- The Foxes spent less than any Premier League team in the summer
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has insisted he is “not a magician” as he struggles to keep his team going by challenging big-spending rivals.
The Foxes have had a big slide in the 2022-23 season thus far as they sit 13th in the standings with just five wins from 18 games.
Leicester play Newcastle in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on Tuesday, with their opponents moving in the opposite direction to the Foxes, sitting in a third-place Champions League qualifying place.
Brendan Rodgers has complained about Leicester’s lack of spending compared to their rivals
Leicester spent the least of any Premier League team in the season with Wout Faes, the only player they shelled out money for.
Ahead of tonight’s match, Rodgers sent a message to the Leicester board admitting it is becoming a “real challenge” to compete, when his net spend is not as high as some of his rivals.
He said: ‘If you look at our net spend since I’ve been here, it’s around £10 million, in the three and a half years I’ve been here. Compare that to our competitors, like Aston Villa, West Ham, Newcastle. It’s over £250 million. It is a big difference.
“If you look at Newcastle’s net spending in the last year, coupled with Eddie’s fantastic coaching [Howe] and your staff plus the infrastructure from where they were to where they are now, looking to build and create something.
Meanwhile, Newcastle are on the rise and have spent big money since their takeover by Saudi Arabia.
They will do it wisely and sensibly, but they have the resources to do it. So that’s the modern game and there’s no doubt that they join that group. Look at some of the other teams – Aston Villa’s net spending in recent years, West Ham too. It is becoming a real challenge.
The Foxes’ slump this season is perhaps no surprise given they spent just £15m last summer on two players.
By contrast, Newcastle shelled out £122m, after spending heavily in the previous January transfer window, West Ham shelled out £163m while Aston Villa shelled out £63m.
In fact, Leicester spent the least of any Premier League team during the summer window, with Bournemouth coming the closest at £24m.
Despite all that, Leicester is still in contention for the Carabao Cup.
Leicester sit 13th in the table having won just five of their 18 Premier League games.
The Foxes are hoping to repeat their FA Cup success in 2021, which they lifted for the first time.
Rodgers said: ‘You have to look at reality. It is so important for all clubs that fans can dream, but there is a reality to it and a reason why trophies have been won mainly by the biggest clubs with the biggest resources, that is natural.
“It doesn’t stop us from trying harder or working harder and we’ve shown that in both games at Wembley. [FA Cup and Community Shield] We can take a trophy home.
“That will never stop while I’m here because that’s what we want to do and I know the players are looking forward to it as well.”