SM
Wednesday, April 24
Upcoming predictions and previews
AA
Europa League | Group Stage
Oct 29, 2020 at 5.55pm UK
Olympiako Stadio Spyros Louis
LL

AEK Athens
1 - 2
Leicester

Tankovic (49')
Mantalos (21'), Krsticic (59'), Insua (73')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Vardy (18' pen.), Choudhury (39')
Thomas (78')

Kasper Schmeichel cannot wait for European clash with AEK Athens

:Headline: Kasper Schmeichel cannot wait for European clash with AEK Athens: ID:420123: from db_amp
Leicester beat Zorya Luhansk in their Europa League opener last week.

Kasper Schmeichel admits he has missed Leicester's European adventures.

The Foxes travelled to Greece on Wednesday ahead of Thursday's Europa League Group G match at AEK Athens.

It is Leicester's first European trip since April 2017 when they lost 1-0 at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals.

The Foxes opened their Europa League account with a 3-0 win over Zorya Luhansk last week and Schmeichel has been pining for more European action.

"When you have experiences like that (the Champions League) they are amazing but the flip side is you want more," said the goalkeeper.

"It's been a long road back to European football and we were hoping for the Champions League but you don't always get what you want.

"We're here in another amazing competition and these nights are different but they are what you work for. You hope one day soon we can get the fans back, that's the reason we do it, to have the fans able to travel to Athens.

"We have to focus on the pitch and make sure we do it for everyone at home."

Schmeichel also believes the Foxes can compete on all fronts but stopped short at comparing the current squad to the title winners of 2016.

He said: "What we achieved was very unique and was always going to be hard to replicate but you learn to believe and think 'you never know'.

"You enter every competition wanting to go as far as you can. The main goal is to get out of the group stages. In terms of the squad, I have every confidence. We have some injuries but as soon as we get everyone fit, we have a great chance."

Ricardo Pereira remains out with his Achilles injury, Caglar Soyuncu and Wilfred Ndidi (both groin) are sidelined along with Nampalys Mendy (thigh) and Islam Slimani is not in the club's European squad.

AEK lost their opening game 3-0 in Braga last week and are fourth in the Greek Super League with boss Massimo Carrera insisting his players need to be selfless to ensure they can take something.

He said: "We have to stay focused and display the sentiment of self-sacrifice because we're playing against a top team with qualities as individual players and a team.

"We have to play our own game which means to play the way we know. The ball is round so at the end, we'll have to see what happens and why can't we be the ones celebrating something positive?

"Playing without fans has an impact, we don't like that because it gives us great strength to have the fans supporting us.

"It makes it a bit more difficult to adapt to the new circumstances. The players have to find the extra strength from within them."

amp_article__420123 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-10-28 18:18:59:
html db last update - 2021-03-11 18:26:47 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Kasper Schmeichel

Click here for more stories about AEK Athens

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Relegation Round
1Panserraikos52213552-1735
2OFI CreteOFI Crete52303447-1334
3AtromitosAtromitos51313651-1534
4Asteras TripolisAsteras51043854-1634
5PanetolikosPanetolikos53113348-1530
6Volos53113457-2329
7Kifisia52123663-2728
8PAS GianninaPAS Giannina50142959-3019
Championship Round
1AEK AthensAEK Athens641172304272
2PanathinaikosPanathinaikos650179275271
3PAOKPAOK622276304668
4OlympiacosOlympiacos631270313967
5Aris ThessalonikiAris72144540549
6LamiaLamia70164068-2835
 
Regular Season
1PAOKPAOK26193466214560
2AEK AthensAEK Athens26178160253559
3OlympiacosOlympiacos26183558243457
4PanathinaikosPanathinaikos26175462214156
5Aris ThessalonikiAris26126839291042
6LamiaLamia2697103544-934
7Asteras TripolisAsteras2694133646-1031
8AtromitosAtromitos26610102944-1528
9Panserraikos2669112845-1727
10OFI CreteOFI Crete26510112644-1825
11Kifisia2649133156-2521
12PanetolikosPanetolikos2648142646-2020
13Volos2647152452-2819
14PAS GianninaPAS Giannina2639142548-2318
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .