Showdown talks can reignite Foxes’ spirit
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
KASPER Schmeichel believes a players’ inquest into Leicester’s poor start to the season could be the inspiration they need to regain their fighting spirit, starting tonight against FC Copenhagen.
The squad held a frank discussion about recent performances at the club’s training ground and concluded a determination to get back to the high-energy, compact style that brought them unprecedented success last season.
This weekend’s 3-0 defeat against Chelsea again exposed defensive vulnerabilities that had been absent when Claudio Ranieri’s team were marching to the title.
Leicester have the opportunity to instantly prove their character in tonight’s Champions League game, with two clean-sheet victories in the competition coming in the aftermath of three-goal defeats to Liverpool and Manchester United.
Schmeichel insisted confidence had ‘categorically not’ been affected by collecting only eight points from eight Premier League games, adding: ‘You look at how we have started over the last few seasons, we haven’t been the quickest. It is not the time to panic, we come good in the middle of the season and really good at the end.
‘We are working on a few things. We’ve had a chat and things have been said and resolved. We move on. It is a long old season. We are confident of turning it around.’
Ranieri plans to recall Riyad Mahrez, Islam Slimani and Danny Simpson to his starting line-up after resting the trio at Stamford Bridge and he admitted that the Champions League is taking precedence in the next month.
‘My players made the world crazy with what happened last season,’ said Ranieri. ‘They showed fantastic spirit and character — a fairytale. Now I want them to show their strength, their love for the team and for football.
‘Only for this month the Champions League is priority. We want the knock-out rounds. For this reason, I saved some players.’
Such a decision makes sense, given Leicester could qualify for the last-16 by picking up four points in successive matches against the Danish champions.
With a home game against Bruges on November 22, even the possibility of topping Group G — and receiving a favourable draw — is realistic. Ranieri appreciates this is a golden chance for Leicester. Having already written off the chances of defending their domestic title, he wants to squeeze every last drop from Europe.
He was half-joking when he claimed Leicester had improved defensively from last season — they have conceded 14 goals so far this season, compared to 15 at the same stage last year — but was serious when he dismissed the prospect of a relegation battle.
‘It’s normal when a team plays in Europe for the first time, they lose a little something,’ he said. ‘The league is up and down. The players are humans, not machines. New players come, new philosophy, the opponent knows us well.
‘We don’t feel any pressure about relegation. I am sure we will get better. We have to be solid.’
Leicester will be without Nampalys Mendy tonight after he suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury. The midfielder had surgery yesterday to remove a bone fragment and will be sidelined for around four weeks. Shinji Okazaki will return to the squad after he was rested following international duty with Japan.
Even with their reinforced squad, Schmeichel warned against taking Leicester’s opponents too lightly.
Managed by Stale Solbakken, who oversaw a disastrous spell in charge of Wolves in 2012, and led in attack by Andreas Cornelius, an £8million flop at Cardiff in 2013, Copenhagen have impressed in the Champions League this season, drawing in Porto with 10 men and beating Bruges 4-0.
They are unbeaten in 23 games dating back to May and have not conceded for four games. Schmeichel, who was born in the Danish capital, says Copenhagen will provide a tough encounter.
‘Stale’s instilled lot of belief and made them very disciplined. He is a very articulate, passionate guy and leaves no doubt what he wants from his players,’ said Schmeichel.
‘They are tough to break down, and going 23 unbeaten means they have a lot of momentum.’