Rodgers says prospect of playing FA Cup final at an EMPTY Wembley Stadium would be ‘strange’

Brendan Rodgers has admitted the prospect of playing the FA Cup final at a deserted Wembley is ‘strange’ for the clubs still involved.

Leicester are in the quarter-finals of the competition and would face Chelsea if it resumes, but the coronavirus crisis means the cup would be concluded in a very different atmosphere from usual.

Under current plans, the final has been pencilled in for August 8 but even if it does take place, there will be no supporters there to see it.

Brendan Rodgers says the prospect of an FA Cup final with no fans is a ‘strange’ one

Premier League players are now back in training and have been given the OK for full contact

‘The cup game is a strange one,’ said Rodgers. ‘The FA Cup so historic but you can get to the final of that and play at an empty Wembley Stadium. There are so many things to consider.

‘After this scenario we will all be winners if everyone can come through safe and get football back on for supporters. It won’t be the same without them but we will do everything we can to make it a spectacle if the games get played.’

Leicester’s players are set to return to full contact training in the coming days after clubs unanimously voted to begin Phase 2 training following clearance from the government.

Rodgers’ team would resume third in the Premier League and on course to secure a Champions League spot with nine games remaining.

He told NBC: ‘Full contact will be interesting – what happens on that first day. [The players] will be kicking lumps out of each other as they have been restrained for so long.

‘It is about looking forward to the real game and we are maximising this time we have now. It’s movement patterns, it’s non-contact, but there are many exercises you can do which will help develop players.

Wembley would host the FA Cup final in August but with no fans present in the stadium

The FA Cup final is a British footballing institution but is set to be very different this year

‘The players hadn’t totally switched off so they’ve come back at a really good level and we’re topping that up and making sure in these first few days there are not too many strains, but we can push them harder than at start of pre-season.

‘With full contact you’re into real game scenario and then you can become more competitive. We look forward to that moment.

‘We’ve done an awful lot of work over the last few months – lots of Zoom calls, individual calls, getting ready for the moment as there are so many protocols to adhere to but it’s going really fluently.

‘The organisation has been first class, which is a testament to all staff – the sports science, medical and coaching teams, the support staff. It’s meant we’ve come into a really safe environment.’