Rodgers ‘takes responsibility’ for Foxes’ Europa League defeat

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers says he will ‘take responsibility’ for their 2-0 loss at the hands of Slavia Prague.

The Foxes were knocked out in the round of 32 as the manager’s poor run in the Europa League continued.

He is yet to reach the last 16 of the competition after five attempts.

The Premier League side went behind in the 49th minute, with Lukas Provod scoring the first goal of the second leg and the tie.

He was found unmarked at the back post by a great Nicolae Stanciu cross. The 24-year-old managed to finish off the chance from close range to give his side a crucial away goal.

Abdallah Sima then made the task pretty much impossible for Leicester by adding a second in the 79th minute.

Reacting to the loss, Rodgers told BT Sport (via BBC Sport): “We lost to the better team. I take responsibility for the team I’ve picked. I picked a team I felt could win the game.

“We didn’t create enough over two legs. We didn’t defend with any intensity. We gave away two disappointing goals. The better team won.

“We started pretty well. We didn’t have enough quality to break them down.

“I don’t want to give too many excuses. [We had] players not available tonight at the top end of the field. However I still expected us to show up more. They’ll learn from it.

“We’re disappointed to be out but we know we weren’t good enough.”

The result means Rodgers and Leicester will have to focus on qualifying for Europe through the Premier League.

They sit third in the table, four points ahead of West Ham.

The Foxes also have a chance of silverware in the FA Cup.

They take on Man Utd in the quarter-finals on March 21.