WE’RE FOR IT
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE And we’ll stick to our style vows Foxes boss
CRAIG SHAKESPEARE promised that Leicester are ready to carry on shaking up Europe.
The Foxes boss says his side, who were yesterday drawn to face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, will never change their in-your-face style.
Shakespeare reckons the intense approach that has taken Leicester into the last eight in their debut season in the competition is the only way to get the best from his players.
And he plans to stick to the winning formula at home and abroad.
Shakespeare’s men face West Ham today at the London Stadium as they resume their fight against Premier League relegation.
But fans are already looking forward to another European adventure, with the first leg of their last-eight clash scheduled for Madrid on April 12.
And their manager says he will stick with the style that saw off Sevilla in the last 16 this week, despite his side surrendering the ® majority of possession. “We are at our best when we do that,” said Shakespeare.
“We saw the results against Liverpool and Hull. The players think that’s when they’re at their best so that’s what we’ll do.
“I don’t envisage changing it much. Of course we have to be careful of the opposition and when we attack we have to attack in numbers but make sure we don’t leave the back door open. But that is our strength and I don’t envisage changing.
“Statistics are there for everyone to look at but ultimately it’s about how many you score and how many you concede.
“I know in terms of possession maybe we are an exception.”
Staying in Europe has intensified the schedule for Shakespeare’s men at the end of the season.
And Claudio Ranieri’s former No.2 says he is not afraid to use his squad, despite reverting largely to last season’s title-winning line-up since taking over from the sacked Italian.
“I would never be frightened to change a winning team, whether it’s through loss of form or injury,” he said.
Danger
“Everybody needs to be ready and at the moment everybody is pushing each other, whether that is the first 11, the subs or those who haven’t been involved yet.
“We put a big onus on the players taking responsibility themselves.
“But we have a very good support staff here which means everything the players need or want to get ready for the next game is available.
“That means that playing Tuesday and Saturday is not an issue.”
Shakespeare, though, has now ordered his players to forget about their European adventure, with the Foxes still in danger of relegation.
They are still looking for their first away win of the season in the league but Shakespeare heads for London with a 100 per cent record in his three matches in the Leicester dugout and one previous game in caretaker charge at West Brom.
“It is not really something I think about too much because if you get carried away you will lose focus on the here and now,” he said.