Foxes make their Marc among elite
MARC ALBRIGHTON believes Leicester’s unbeaten start to their Champions League campaign will ensure some of Europe’s bigger guns finally sit up and take notice.
No one was quite sure how last season’s shock Premier League winners would deal with Europe’s elite.
But two wins from two against Bruges and Porto have left Albrighton confident the Foxes can leave some teeth marks on even bigger quarry as the competition progresses.
“Teams know a bit about us already but it was up to us not to disappoint [in our opening games] and I don’t think we have,” he said.
“So can we make some waves in Europe now? Yes, possibly we can.”
If Leicester could have been expected to beat Bruges, Tuesday’s visit of Portuguese club Porto, winners in 2004 and three-time quarter-finalists, provided a stiffer test of their credentials.
Yet it is one they passed reasonably comfortably – winning 1-0 – and they now sit on top of Group G with six points.
“It is great to be unbeaten and we have given ourselves the best possible opportunity to go as far as we can,” said Albrighton.
“But we are not getting ahead of ourselves. We have four tough games coming up.
“If we win our home games then I think we will qualify. That may be a long time in the future but it is definitely our aim.”
Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri has strengthened his squad in the close season despite fears that winning the Premier League would break up rather than unite the squad.
No player has made more of an impact than striker Islam Slimani.
Albrighton has been impressed with his rapid assimilation after signing for a clubrecord £30million from Sporting Lisbon and said: “He’s had a big impact with three goals early in his career [two against Burnley and one against Porto]. It has been brilliant.
“It is unfortunate nowadays that you don’t get a settling-in period in the Premier League but he obviously hasn’t needed one, so it’s brilliant that he is scoring goals. Not just for him but also because it breeds confidence throughout the team.”
The key will now be to show the same form in their domestic campaign after losing three of their six Premier League matches – against Hull, Liverpool and Manchester United – the last two on the wrong end of 4-1 scorelines.
“We have had some tough games in the league but it was the manner in which we lost those games that was tough to take,” said Albrighton ahead of Sunday’s league match at home to Southampton.
“It is going to be difficult to keep hitting the highs in the Premier League and Champions League but we have the squad now and we have quality all over.”