Cunning plan by Foxes for glory bid

LEICESTER manager Craig Shakespeare insists the Foxes can win the Champions League.

They host Sevilla in the last 16 tonight, trailing 2-1 from last month’s first leg, in Shakespeare’s first game as full-time manager.

Shakespeare won his first two matches in charge – before Sunday’s confirmation he would be boss until the end of the season – following Claudio Ranieri’s February axe.

A 1-0 win at the King Power Stadium would send the Foxes into the last eight on away goals and, after last season’s shock 5,000-1 Premier League triumph, Shakespeare said Leicester must believe they can win the competition.

“Why not? We are in it, we have to try to be competitive in every game,” said the 53-year-old, who was Ranieri’s assistant.

“For me there is no free game in football, you have to try to win every game you go in to and show that determination and competitiveness and we need to show that in abundance.

“We know the importance of getting that goal. It is going to be a huge task but hopefully with the crowd – and we make a good atmosphere here – we can go through.”

Jamie Vardy’s away goal at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium gave the Foxes hope after Kasper Schmeichel made a number of saves, including from Joaquin Correa’s first-half penalty, to keep them in the tie.

Ranieri was dismissed just 24 hours after the defeat in Spain but Shakespeare believes Vardy’s strike gives the tie a different complexion.

He said: “Even after the first game we knew by getting the away goal we had given ourselves a great opportunity.

“I’m expecting the team to take momentum from the two wins over Liverpool and Hull and really play on the front foot.

“That is not to say we will be open as we know Sevilla have world-class players but it makes for an interesting game because of our away goal.

“I’m quite calm and collected. Hopefully I’ll stay calm so the players aren’t over-emotional. We have to compete for the 90 minutes or extra-time.”