SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE

New boss couldn’t be happier to be in charge of Foxes’ European adventure

CRAIG SHAKESPEARE played his usual quiet role with Leicester in Seville last month – a sounding board for Claudio Ranieri as Foxes escaped with a narrow 2-1 defeat.

But 20 days is a long time in football. Sacked Ranieri is gone from the hotseat, Leicester have won both games under Shakespeare, and tonight he will be in the dugout as a full-time manager in the Champions League knockout stages.

The idea of being Numero Uno has grown on him but Shakespeare could never have dreamed of such an incredible first game in full control as tonight’s return against Sevilla.

He said: “I didn’t in all honestly expect a first game like this. But it excites me and it excites the players.

“The idea of being a manager has grown on me over the years.

“When you are an assistant manager you get a good feel for what it takes by working under different managers.

“I understand the challenges ahead. There are some massive challenges, none more so than Sevilla.”

That challenge tonight is to beat a Spanish side that has won the Europa League for the past three seasons.

But Shakespeare is not daunted by the task or by the storm over Ranieri’s sacking following the away leg in Spain. Pundits including Eric Cantona and Martin Keown have slammed Leicester’s treatment of Ranieri. Keown even claimed Shakespeare was “out of order” to court the job after the Italian left. But the new Foxes boss responded: “I bear no grudges, Claudio bears no grudges. He wished me luck.” The new man’s appointment has certainly delighted the dressing room, where players had become disenchanted with Ranieri’s tactics. The new gaffer has gone back to basics, reverting to last season’s successful 4-4-2 line-up with almost identical personnel. Impressive January recruit Wilfred Ndidi has replaced the brilliant N’Golo Kante, who quit for Chelsea, in the only major change from last season.

And under Shakespeare Leicester have managed to recapture the verve of last season that carried them to the title, with Jamie Vardy (left, in training) almost back to his best.

It has seen belief and morale soar – aided by last week’s jolly to Dubai.

Now Leicester players are recharged and focused as they plot to overturn that first-leg deficit against Jorge Sampaoli’s side.

Shakespeare added: “We have massive games coming up and have to focus on them. We have to try to put some wins on the board.

“We have to try to move up the table and we have to try to win against Sevilla.

“It is great to pit your wits against some of the best managers in the world but it is more about the club trying to progress.”

Diligent Shakespeare has even had Leicester practising spotkicks.

He said: “We are trying to leave no stone unturned. We practised penalties and, by the way, they were good.”

Foxes midfielder Danny Drinkwater claims Shakespeare, confirmed on Sunday as manager until the end of the season, was Leicester’s secret weapon in their title success.

Asked about the coach’s contribution to last term, Drinkwater (below) replied: “He was huge. Last season he helped Claudio settle in and was the link between the manager and the players.

“We were all very happy when it got announced he was getting the job until the end of the season. And I am sure it would get the same reaction if it was long-term.

“It’s a great appointment – the results speak for themselves with two wins in two. He has been a pleasure to work with as a manager. “He helps us enjoy our football. His team talk is just ‘enjoy your football, work hard, do the simple things and hopefully the rest will shine through.’