"I’m not a magician" says Brendan Rodgers ahead of Newcastle clash
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers says the new money in English football has made it harder to compete.
A Saudi Arabia-led takeover made Newcastle United the world's richest football club in 2021 while Leicester sold Kasper Schmeichel and Wesley Fofana and only brought Wout Faes in the summer.
Ahead of the match, Brendan Rodgers said his job is becoming harder as other teams continuously outspend them.
"I think I'm a decent coach, but I'm not a magician,"
he said.
"If you look at our net spend since I've been here, it's about £10m, in three-and-half years.
"Compare that to our competitors, like Aston Villa, West Ham, Newcastle. It's over £250m. It's a big difference.
"If you look at Newcastle's net spend in the last year, along with the fantastic coaching of Eddie [Howe], plus the infrastructure from where they were to where they are now, they're looking to build and create something.
"They'll do it wisely and sensibly, but they have the resources to do that. So that's the modern game and there's no doubt they join that bracket.
"Look at some of the other teams - Aston Villa's net spend over the last few years, West Ham too. It's becoming a real challenge.”
Only Swansea and Birmingham have managed to win the Carabao cup in the last 18 years other than the big six clubs in England.
He added:
"You have to look at the reality of it. It's so important for every club that supporters can dream, but there is a reality to it and a reason why the trophies have been won in the main by the biggest clubs with the biggest resources, that's natural.
"It does not stop us trying any harder or working any harder and we've proven in the two games at Wembley [FA Cup and Community Shield] we can take a trophy home.
"That will never cease while I'm here because that's what we want to do and I know the players are very keen to do it as well.”
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe also said they must be more ruthless if they want to beat Leicester and reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
He said:
"This game will be different. Brendan is a very good tactician. I thought that game, the scoreline, slightly flattered us.
"It certainly wasn't an easy game and we understand the quality they have. We will need to be at our best to get through.
"Psychologically, it would be a great thing for us to get through to a two-legged semi-final. We want to experience that, but we have a very different tough opponent in our way.
"We have to be more clinical. If we look back at the Leeds game and Saturday, there were too many chances not taken."
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