Sports Rodgers gives verdict on Ben Chilwell facing Chelsea amid £80m transfer interest
Brendan Rodgers insists Ben Chilwell won't be fazed lining up against Chelsea despite the Londoners planning a mega summer bid for him.
Leicester's England left-back Chilwell is a transfer target for Chelsea, whose boss Frank Lampard is a huge admirer.
The two clubs meet in the FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday at the King Power, where the hosts rate their defender at £80million.
But Rodgers insists his selection will not be influenced by Chelsea's mounting interest in 11-cap Chilwell.
And he praised the 23-year-old for impressing since the re-start after scoring his third goal of the season in a draw at Watford.
“I have no worries at all,” said Rodgers when asked about Chilwell facing his suitors.
“Speculation and gossip is something you have to live with in this industry.
“He has good experiences now, Ben, and can deal with that. It is a part of the game and we know that.
“Ben has come back and he has been brilliant. He has come back and looks fresh.
"In the lockdown he has really pressed the re-set button again. He has been fit and his running ability has been great.
Rodgers added: “His defending has been good. You saw his goal he scored against Watford - it was a brilliant strike.”
The Leicester boss has never tasted victory over Chelsea in any of his managerial spells with Watford, Reading, Swansea, Liverpool, Celtic or his current club.
His results against them included Steven Gerrard's infamous slip against the Blues in 2014 when Liverpool lost to blow their title hopes.
Leicester have also played Chelsea eight times in FA Cup and have never beaten them either.
But Rodgers refuses to be weighed down by history as he aims for victory after the Foxes drew with Chelsea twice in the Premier League this season.
He said: “Even myself as a manager I have not beaten Chelsea in all the teams I have been involved with.
“It doesn't really mean anything but it means something this weekend because you want to get to a semi-final.
“We had two games against Chelsea this season and could have won them both, and hopefully now we will take the next step."
He added: “I remember being 1-0 up with Swansea in 2012 and conceded in injury-time.
“I am the eternal optimistic but you always have to push for it and that is what we intend to do.
“We will give everything we can to look to achieve it.”
Rodgers is also desperate for cup success after losing in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup to struggling Aston Villa, who won 3-2 on aggregate with a 90th-minute decider.
Rodgers, whose side have beaten Villa twice in the top flight this term, said: “We have showed our intent in all the competitions getting the semi-finals of the cup.
“We were really disappointed with the Aston Villa semi-final. That is something we will use.”
