Brendan Rodgers was finally able to put in place his long-held plan for Leicester City’s right side – and was pleased it was a success. Rodgers’ plan to play Ricardo and Castagne together have been delayed, first when Ricardo suffered a setback and then when Castagne hurt his hamstring.
Brendan Rodgers said: “It’s been something I’ve been waiting to do for quite a long time, but this is the first period where both of those boys were fit to play,” Rodgers said after Sunday’s win at Villa Park. They’re different types. Because of how we play, they find themselves in that attacking third of the pitch quite a lot. Tim will run more without the ball and penetrate, and Ricky’s one who can be inside and manipulate the ball. I just thought that combination of those two, because Ricky is comfortable coming inside, he can turn, he can pass, he’s very aggressive when he attacks. I thought the two of them were very good and combined well together.”
Playing that way also allows Rodgers to keep Castagne at right-back, where he feels he is more effective, rather than move him across to left-back. The City boss experimented with Justin and Castagne on different sides midway through the season, but after putting the Belgian back on the right in the FA Cup win at Stoke,
Brendan Rodgers said: “Tim’s strength is his running, and on the left side with Harvey (Barnes) in front of him, he doesn’t get the chance to do that so much, whereas JJ can come inside and combine.”
Meanwhile, Ricardo is the latest player to operate on the right wing, as position that has been City’s most-rotated this season. Ayoze Perez, Dennis Praet, Marc Albrighton, and Cengiz Under have all previously had stints in the role.
