Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has rapped Super Eagles defender Wilfred Ndidi over the error that led to the solitary goal conceded by Leicester City in their 1-0 loss to Chelsea in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Ferdinand said the Nigeria international could have done better in the encounter and probably prevented Rose Barkley’s goal.
“The gap between the centre-backs starts to develop. When that happens, when that big gap comes, the big job is for Ndidi, who has had great reviews for how he’s played over the years, and rightly so,” Ferdinand told BT Sport.
“Once you see the gap between the centre-backs when the ball’s wide, his job is to drop in, drop in here and be that guard in there. If you keep your eye on Ndidi here and look how many times he looks over his shoulder to see where Barkley is.
“One look, two looks – when he looks there he has to drop in there and cover the run from Barkley. He knows he can get in behind Ndidi because he’s not looking.
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has explained his reasons for leaving Kelechi Iheanacho on the bench in their 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Chelsea on Sunday.
Ross Barkley’s 63rd-minute winner at the King Power Stadium ensured the Foxes were eliminated from the competition.
Iheanacho has been delivering fine performances for Leicester in the second half of this campaign having struggled at the start of the season.
The Nigeria international has found the back of the net eight times and provided four assists in 20 appearances across all competitions so far this campaign.
The former Manchester City forward was expected to be introduced in the second half to boost the Foxes’ comeback in the game but was surprisingly left on the bench throughout the encounter.
When asked his reasons for his action, the Northern Irish tactician revealed he felt Jamie Vardy could rescue the day for his side.
“I was just looking at Jamie knowing he still looked fresh,” Rodgers said, as per Leicester Mercury.
“We felt he [Vardy] could grab a goal, he doesn’t need many opportunities, so it was just waiting for that opportunity for him to come. So it was as simple as that.”
Iheanacho’s compatriot Wilfred Ndidi, however, featured for the entirety of the match but could not help Leicester avoid the elimination.
The defeat against the Stamford Bridge outfit means the Foxes are now winless in their last three games after draws against Watford and Brighton and Hove Albion.
Iheanacho has featured in 65 appearances since joining the side in the summer of 2017 from the Citizens and has scored seven Premier League goals.
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