The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Simpson sure Foxes can have best of both worlds at home and abroad
Leicester defender Danny Simpson has insisted the Foxes can recreate last season’s stunning form and dismissed criticism of their title defence.
Leicester maintained their 100% record in the Champions League with Tuesday’s 1-0 win against Copenhagen, but have struggled in the Premier League.
Their domestic title defence looks to be over already as they trail leaders Manchester City by 11 points ahead of Saturday’s visit of Crystal Palace.
The players met to resolve any issues after they were accused of lacking spirit during Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Chelsea, their fourth reverse of the season after only losing three times during the whole of last term’s title-winning campaign. But Simpson remained confident they can compete on both fronts, with the Foxes on the brink of reaching the Champions League second round.
“This side can go like last season’s side can go,” said the right back. “We’ve signed a load of new players and we can go where we want. We’ve just got to do it in both competitions.
“The record we’ve got in the Champions League is great, but we’ve got tomake sure we replicate that inthe league.
“We don’t listen to what’s said out there. We’re a group. We have our meetings, we speak among ourselves, we’re an honest group of lads and we don’t like losing no matter what competition it is.
“It’s pride. Especially after last season when we just got used to winning games and then we took a couple of heavy defeats, it hurts.
“We are going to away grounds and we are the champions.
“People want to beat us more. We need to deal with that.”
Riyad Mahrez’s winner secured the points against Copenhagen and Leicester will reach these cond round with a win in Denmark in two weeks, with the Foxes five points clear in Group G.
Claudio Ranieri’s side is yet to concede in Europe this season, but Simpson is baffled why they have leaked 14 goals in the league.
He added: “I’m not sure. We just need to take that spirit and togetherness we showed on Tuesday and be like that.”