The Tricky Trees haven’t secured a victory since replacing Steve Cooper with former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers.
As speculation swirls that owner Evangelos Marinakis is contemplating a second change in management this season, a mere seven matches into Rodgers’s leadership, the Forest manager has addressed his future.
This weekend, the squad welcomes Manchester United in the lunchtime fixture at the City Ground, broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Brendan Rodgers takes a playful jab at Leicester City in a new statement
A failure to achieve victory in an eighth straight game could mark the end for Rodgers, just months after his FA Cup victory and subsequent departure from Leicester City.
“I feel as though I am misunderstood, and I simply am out of sync, not necessarily here, but in general,” the straightforward manager started during his pre-game press conference. “If one evaluates the situation from the viewpoint that I am an unsuccessful coach who is fortunate to be employed, although I can see your scepticism, but that is the prevailing sentiment, then naturally these initial weeks give the impression that I am under duress. However, another perspective exists.
“I arrived in the Premier League a few years prior, joining Leicester, where the chairman [Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha] indicated the club needed to secure silverware. He mentioned their attempts to recruit triumphant figures such as Claudio Ranieri and others, yet without success. A different approach was needed. Admittedly, I considered that somewhat discourteous given I recognize myself as a winner.
“I assumed leadership at Leicester who had previously ended twelfth. A significant club, undoubtedly, yet not participating in European competition, something they strive to attain frequently. We achieved sixth position in my opening year, and with each goal Jamie Vardy has scored since his departure, I lament his absence from our squad for just one additional season. His presence would have proven invaluable after our sixth-place finish.”
The 51-year-old was victorious in 64 of his 169 matches managing the Foxes, however, the 59 defeats were ultimately detrimental.
Leicester ensured Conference League qualification by securing the FA Cup the previous season, but frequently lingered dangerously close to the relegation spots for the majority of the season, a circumstance deemed intolerable by the club’s management, in spite of Rodgers ending the club’s extended trophy drought.
“The initial season [at Leicester] seems to have been erased from recollection. It was cited as grounds for my dismissal given Leicester opted to disregard the first twelve games. Yet, it appears that the initial few matches here [at Forest] are perceived as pivotal.
“Regardless, we achieved sixth. We ensured their return to European competitions, precisely where a club of Leicester’s magnitude ought to participate. Subsequently, during meetings [post-season], I was informed of the necessity to secure silverware as it would hold profound significance for the club. Very well.
“We secure a trophy. Shedding any perceptions of being ‘Spursy’. Earning Conference League participation, thus offering opportunities to secure more skilled players. What I have since heard following my tenure at Leicester is our fourteenth place finish last season.
“Therefore, assessed through a lens of concluding fourteenth, I am indeed an unsuccessful coach fortunate to receive another chance. Furthermore, if elaborating on the reasons for our fourteenth place finish is required, it’s straightforward. No detailed analysis is needed.
“Examine the starting lineups from the last half-dozen games to discern my priorities [the FA Cup] and the substitutes deployed. The final match against West Ham saw some players celebrating for many hours, a choice I sanctioned in recognition of their efforts. Consequently, yes, we completed the season in fourteenth place. Though, should that outcome be perceived as an indication of my capabilities and management, it would imply that my methods are unsuitable.”
