opinion

Leicester title-winner explains what he feels has been catalyst for club’s downfall with Brendan Rodgers under pressure

06 Sep 2022, 11:33 by Lee Davey · talkSPORT

Former Leicester City defender Danny Simpson believes the departure of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has impacted the Foxes’ start to the season.

Brendan Rodgers’ side are languishing at the bottom of the table and have lost five of their opening six Premier League games.

Danish international Kasper Schmeichel was an influential figure in the Foxes’ changing room

Schmeichel made a shock switch to Ligue 1 side Nice this summer after 11 years at Leicester CityAFP

Schmeichel made an unexpected move to French side Nice this summer after 11 years at the King Power Stadium, leaving only Jamie Vardy, Marc Albrighton and Daniel Amartey as survivors of the 2016 title-wining team.

Last week Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha revealed the club would have to curb their spending this summer to ensure the club remains financially secure, which has left Rodgers unable to strengthen his side.

Simpson was part of Leicester‘s 2016 title-winning side and insists the club’s drop in form is down to the departure of key figures in the dressing room rather than the club’s inability to bring in a host of new faces.

“As we know from pre-season, there has been stuff going on off the pitch and when you do lose your best players, and when I say best players I’m not just talking on the pitch, off the pitch as well,” Simpson told talkSPORT.

“Kasper Schmeichel, he’s been there for 11 years, the influence off the pitch as well as on it. I think he’s been Leicester’s best player over the last couple of years, making save after save.

“But it’s just his influence in the dressing room. Sometimes when you lose that and you lose other players over the years like [Christian] Fuchs and Wes Morgan, that alone can hurt as well.

Former Leicester defender Danny Simpson believes Schmeichel’s exit is hurting the club

Leiecster City’s influential title-winning captain Wes Morgan retired from football in 2021Getty

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Simpson has been keeping close tabs on his former side and despite the pessimism currently clouding the King Power Stadium, Simpson says one win could galvanise the players much like the situation Manchester United found themselves in last month.

“We all know you just need one win. Look at Man United after the Brentford game and they were rock bottom.

“You just need that one win to get the lads going again.

“Aston Villa at home [on Saturday] is a must win. This game is where it’s all to play for and I think they all know that.”

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