‘Chelsea are the best team we played’ – Leicester boss Rodgers claims not having ‘top players available’ has cost Blues

BRENDAN RODGERS claimed Chelsea are the best team his Leicester side have faced this season.

And the Foxes boss insists having key players unavailable has cost the Blues dear.

Rodgers, a former coach at Chelsea, heads back to Stamford Bridge with Leicester in their rearranged Premier League clash on Thursday.

And despite Thomas Tuchel's men being out of Sunday's title showdown, the Northern Irishman was full of praise for the stricken Chelsea.

Rodgers - whose side were outclassed 3-0 at the King Power in October - said: "I would go as far as to say Chelsea are the best team we have played this season.

"When we played them early on in the season, they were at the top of their game. I thought they were outstanding.

"Not long after that moment, they lost some players. I've said it before, even with squads like Chelsea's, you need your top players available.

"Over the course of the time, they have had players out, key players who make the systems function to the highest level.

"Then obviously, there's the distractions behind the scenes, and of course, that's a challenge."

Chelsea have been without ex-Leicester duo Ben Chilwell and N'Golo Kante for large chunks of the campaign - the former since November with a knee injury that required surgery.

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Reece James, Mateo Kovacic, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Timo Werner, Romelu Lukaku and Christian Pulisic have all been sidelined for various lengths of time.

Chelsea were unable to add the FA Cup to their Super Cup and Club World Cup trophies at the weekend.

And the season looks set to end with the future of the club still not confirmed - as Todd Boehly's £4.25billion takeover is yet to go through.

Rodgers, though, is backing Tuchel to continue to succeed in the dugout next season.

The Leicester boss added: "What I do know is they've got an outstanding manager who has done a fantastic job since he's been there.

"They've got a group of really good players, top, top talents.

"I saw them lose in the FA Cup final, but they have so much courage because they keep getting there.

"And you'd rather be in there and losing finals – of course, you want to win – but you'd rather be arriving there knowing it's going to drop your way and you're going to win in the future.

"So they are a top team, with top players, and they are in the Champions League next season, and I expect them to be up there challenging again next season."