Rodgers – Kelechi Iheanacho may have produced “fabulous technique” for his goal but it was not enough to keep him on the pitch.
The striker was substituted midway through the second half of Leicester City’s 1-1 draw with Burnley, manager Brendan Rodgers bringing him off instead of Jamie Vardy as he tweaked his side’s tactics.
With Iheanacho volleying a sublime equaliser, and generally looking more of a threat than Vardy, it was perhaps a surprise that the Nigerian was withdrawn when Rodgers switched to 4-3-3.
The manager said he felt that Vardy would have taken a chance had it fallen to him, but although the number nine was more involved later in the game, there was no gilt-edged opportunity for him to try to convert.
Explaining the substitution, Rodgers said: “It was just tactical. At the beginning of the second half, we were starting to get exposed on the sides, and for that we needed to make the change to 4-3-3.
“Even though Jamie didn’t do much tonight, you would still back him to score if an opportunity came his way.”
On Iheanacho’s strike, Rodgers added: “It was a brilliant goal. It was a good move, we kept the ball well, and then Wilfred Ndidi makes a great pass. It’s good movement from the two strikers, and then fabulous technique.”
Coming into the game on the back of two defeats and with eight injuries in the squad, Rodgers was pleased with the point, particularly after an “awful” start, in which Matej Vydra picked off Hamza Choudhury’s pass, rounded Wilfred Ndidi and finished.
After City’s response through Iheanacho, both teams had good chances to win it, Kasper Schmeichel pulling off a selection of outstanding stops, while the woodwork was hit at either end.