'Try not to worry about your hair' – Rodgers' message to Leicester City players over lifestyle

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has reminded his players to keep their focus on the football, and not the lifestyle that comes with it.

City are getting back to their best just a month after what Rodgers admitted was a “low point” against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup.

He delivered a damning assessment of his squad after the game, urging for greater desire and commitment. And now Rodgers has warned them not to be distracted by the circus of the modern-day game either.

Rodgers said ahead of his side’s clash with Leeds: “I said to the players recently: ‘Try not to worry so much about making sure your hair looks good when you go on the pitch, or your socks are cut to look right. Do what you did when you were a child. Put your shinpads in your socks, pull them up, and go and run.’ If you do that, you won’t be too far away.

“Forget about all the stuff that surrounds the game. Enjoy your football, because my experience of the very best players, they focus on the football and everything else takes care of itself. Keep it simple.”

City go into the Leeds game on the back of their first Premier League win of 2022, but also a performance that Rodgers believe was typical of when the team were at their best over the past couple of seasons.

“Whatever happens this season, there’s no doubt that was the low point,” Rodgers said reflecting on the 4-1 loss at Nottingham Forest. “It was a performance that was unacceptable.

“I was disappointed and angry after that game. I take the responsibility myself, but hearing it in a public forum might have poked them. The players know I’m honest with them.

“We knew we needed to be better. I’ve never walked off a derby game feeling like that. Never. And I’ve been in quite a few as well. We