Brendan Rodgers insists he’s ‘not a magician’ as he bemoans rivals’ spending power
‘I’m not a magician’: Brendan Rodgers sends message to Leicester board as he insists it’s a ‘real challenge’ to compete with the likes of Newcastle, Aston Villa and West Ham – who have all spent big money
- Leicester have had a drop-off in form this season and sit 13th in the table
- The Foxes play big-spending Newcastle in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals
- Brendan Rodgers has bemoaned the spending power of Leicester’s rivals
- The Foxes spent the least out of any Premier League team back in the summer
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Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has insisted he’s ‘not a magician’ as he battles to keep his team challenging against their big-spending rivals.
The Foxes have had a big drop-off in the 2022-23 season so far, as they sit 13th in the standings with just five wins from 18 games.
Leicester play Newcastle in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday, with their opponents moving in the opposite direction to the Foxes – sitting in a Champions League qualification spot in third.
Brendan Rodgers has bemoaned Leicester’s lack of spending compared to their rivals
Leicester spent the least out of any Premier League team in the summer with Wout Faes the only player they forked money out for
Ahead of tonight’s game, Rodgers sent a message to the Leicester board as he admitted it’s becoming a ‘real challenge’ to compete, when their net spend is nowhere near as high as some of their rivals.
He said: ‘If you look at our net spend since I’ve been here, it’s about £10m, in the three-and-half years I’ve been here. Compare that to our competitors, like Aston Villa, West Ham, Newcastle. It’s over £250m. It’s a big difference.
‘If you look at Newcastle’s net spend in the last year, along with the fantastic coaching of Eddie [Howe] and his staff plus the infrastructure from where they were to where they are now, they’re looking to build and create something.
Newcastle are on the rise meanwhile and have spent big money since their Saudi takeover
‘They’ll do it wisely and sensibly, but they have the resources to do that. So that’s the modern game and there’s no doubt they join that bracket. Look at some of the other teams – Aston Villa’s net spend over the last few years, West Ham too. It’s becoming a real challenge.’
The Foxes’ drop-off this season is perhaps no surprise given that they spent just £15m last summer on two players.
On the contrary, Newcastle spent £122m – after already spending big in the previous January transfer window – West Ham forked out £163m while Aston Villa paid £63m.
In fact, Leicester spent the least out of any Premier League team during the summer window, with the closest being Bournemouth on £24m.
Despite all that Leicester are still in contention for the Carabao Cup.
Leicester are 13th in the table having won only five out of their 18 Premier League games
The Foxes are hoping to repeat their success of the FA Cup in 2021, which they lifted for the first time.
Rodgers said: ‘You have to look at the reality of it. It’s so important for every club that supporters can dream, but there is a reality to it and a reason why the trophies have been won in the main by the biggest clubs with the biggest resources, that’s natural.
‘It does not stop us trying any harder or working any harder and we’ve proven in the two games at Wembley [FA Cup and Community Shield] we can take a trophy home.
‘That will never cease while I’m here because that’s what we want to do and I know the players are very keen to do it as well.’
