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After canceling all of the standard footballer’s responses to a post-match TV interview, Kelechi Iheanacho has let his guard down. Turning away from the camera, the Leicester striker let out a cry of pure instinctive pleasure.
He had just scored twice to help his side reach their first FA Cup semi-final since 1982, thanks to a 3-1 win over Manchester United – one of Leicester’s most significant results since their Premier title League five years ago.
Iheanacho’s brace got him seven goals in four games as the Nigerian regained form at the perfect time to keep the Foxes on track for a top four and the first FA Cup in their history.
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers (center) transformed Kelechi Iheanacho’s career
“ I always said you could see the improvements in him day to day, ” Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers said. “I’m delighted because he’s training so hard.
“He’s working well with Jamie Vardy and the combination is really good. He’s got a bit of everything and he’s been an asset in a lot of games recently.
“Kelechi has always contributed. Maybe her confidence was lower [at other times] but he works so hard every day and always comes in and gives his all. You see his confidence now. He’s at his peak.
“Kelechi is probably better off with someone up there with him. These two (Iheanacho and Vardy) work great.
When he landed at the Nigerian base – Eko Hotels and Suites in the upscale Lagos suburb of Victoria Island on Wednesday – for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers, Iheanacho had much to celebrate.
Iheanacho struggled to earn a starting spot at first but was in excellent goal form
Suddenly he went from Vardy’s deputy to one of the fit European strikers. The challenge on his return is to continue. It hasn’t been an easy journey for him to get here, and he will be determined not to let his golden moment go to waste.
When he joined Leicester from Manchester City in 2017, the transfer fee – £ 25million – put immediate pressure on a player who, despite his impressive scoring record, had only started 12 Premier League games .
Iheanacho had also seen his confidence shattered by a season of working with Pep Guardiola, who was clear from the start that Iheanacho would not play a significant role in his long-term plans at City.
Arriving at Leicester, Iheanacho found a dressing room bruised by a terrible defense of their 2016 Premier League title, and in which Vardy, Wes Morgan and Kasper Schmeichel had considerable influence.
He had refused West Ham and Tottenham a move to King Power Stadium, but his first few weeks were an uphill struggle.
The Nigerian has scored seven goals in his last four games, including two against Manchester United
Iheanacho defeated Dean Henderson before securing a 3-1 FA Cup quarter-final victory
While Iheanacho is an extremely popular figure in Leicester, with fellow Nigerian Wilfred Ndidi a very close friend, he is not a particularly brash or outgoing personality.
This made the adaptation a bit trickier – just like an injury after 17 minutes of his first appearance, a preseason friendly against Borussia Monchengladbach.
As is the case with so many players at Leicester, Rodgers’ arrival in February 2019 made all the difference.
At Liverpool and Celtic, Rodgers has shown great skill in dealing with senior players like Jamie Carragher and Scott Brown.
He showed the same qualities at Leicester. If senior men like Vardy, Schmeichel and Morgan are on board with the boss, everything looks rosier, the mood is better and the other players can flourish.
Rodgers has now dismissed Iheanacho’s shy side to turn him into one of Europe’s forwards in form
Rodgers never doubted Iheanacho’s ability but insisted on working on his mentality. For perhaps the first time in his club career, Iheanacho handles the pressure of being a regular starter and he pays homage to his manager’s confidence in spades.
Indeed, his form has been so good that Leicester fans have even wondered if injured duo James Maddison and Harvey Barnes will automatically return to their place when they get fit again.
A client of powerful ICM Stellar agency, Iheanacho has one more year on contract at the end of this season, but is expected to sign a new improved deal with Leicester at the end of the campaign.
Before doing so, Iheanacho wants a trophy on his fireplace. He was part of the City squad that won the League Cup in 2016, but if he could help Leicester win the FA Cup it would feel a lot more special.
Iheanacho already has three goals in this season’s competition and if he could add to that tally in the semi-finals against Southampton and then in the final, he wouldn’t be the only one screaming for joy.
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