SM
Valencia vs. Real Madrid: 20 hrs 15 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Kasper Schmeichel: 'Leicester are stronger now than in 2016'

:Headline: Kasper Schmeichel: 'Leicester are stronger now than in 2016':
The Foxes will face Chelsea at Wembley looking for their first silverware since 2016 this weekend.
Sports Mole

As Leicester seek their first-ever FA Cup trophy on Saturday, Kasper Schmeichel believes the club are in a much stronger place now than when they caught lightning in a bottle to claim the Premier League title in 2016.

The Foxes will face Chelsea at Wembley looking for their first silverware since that day this weekend and will resume hostilities with the Blues three days later in their bid for Champions League football.

It may not have the drama of that 1500-1 shot title under Claudio Ranieri, but Schmeichel believes games like these reflect the solid foundations put in place to allow Leicester to regularly compete for honours.

"Undoubtedly the club is in a fantastic position," the 34-year-old said from the club's £100million Seagrave training facility which opened in December. "The infrastructure is now in place to go and kick on and really begin to build.

"It's always going to be difficult for a club like Leicester to break into the so-called 'Big Six' but here we are again trying, working really, really hard and doing everything we can."

Schmeichel said the Foxes had been on "a journey of self-discovery" since that 2016 title.

Ranieri was sacked the following season as results dipped dramatically, Craig Shakespeare came and went and then Claude Puel tried and failed to turn things around at a time when the club was reeling from the death of chairman Khun Vichai in a 2018 helicopter crash outside the stadium.

But since the arrival of Brendan Rodgers in early 2019 the Foxes have become a force again, narrowly missing the Champions League places while reaching the Carabao Cup semi-finals last season.

"I think one of the massive turning points has been Brendan coming in and giving us that clear identity, that focus and direction and leadership that really sets the club up for future success," Schmeichel said.

"Maybe before we were still trying to find out if we were a counter-attacking side, a possession side, or something in between and we didn't know if we were coming or going at times.

"That led to inconsistencies but now we see two seasons in a row competing near the top of the league and trying to get into finals."

If Leicester have come a long way in the last five years, the transformation from the day Schmeichel signed for the then Championship club from Leeds in 2011 is even more extreme.

But a man who grew up watching his dad play in and win FA Cup finals was adamant he always believed the Foxes would offer him a shot at glory.

"That was the plan," he said. "When I signed for the club, Khun Vichai said to me we would be challenging and we would be in the Champions League in five years and he didn't strike me as the type of person who was messing around when he said things like that.

"That gave me belief. That was what instilled the belief into everybody in the club. They're serious about investing into the club and making it what it is today."

After the collapse of the European Super League and attempts to set up a closed shop in football, Leicester are determined to keep kicking the door in.

"Whether it can be in my playing time that we'll be considered in those conversations or if it will be 10-15 years down the line, what I do know is the commitment to progression and the commitment to excellence is there," Schmeichel said.

"I don't have any doubt with the leadership we have that Leicester will be considered one of the top clubs in the country."

body check tags ::

amp_article__447537 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-05-14 21:43:39:
html db last update - 2021-05-14 21:43:39 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Kasper Schmeichel

Click here for more stories about Chelsea

Share this article now:
WH
Read Next:
Five talking points ahead of this weekend's Premier League action
>


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!
Read more about Kasper Schmeichel Claude Puel Brendan Rodgers Craig Shakespeare Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Five talking points ahead of this weekend's Premier League action
The most sensational swap? £62m striker tipped to replace Rashford at Man Utd
Why is Havertz missing from Arsenal's clash with Brentford?
Chelsea's N'Golo Kante receives Saudi Arabia offer?

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18143145172845
2Arsenal19116238172139
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
4Chelsea19105438231535
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1995532211132
6Manchester CityMan City199463226631
7Bournemouth198652923630
8Fulham197842825329
9Aston Villa198562831-329
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton196942928127
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1973941281324
12Brentford197393335-224
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham196582335-1223
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd196492126-522
15Crystal Palace194872027-720
16Everton183871524-917
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich1936101833-1515
19Leicester CityLeicester1935112242-2014
20Southampton1913151239-276
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.

history www

Nkunku, Felix, Madueke all to drop out? Chelsea predicted lineup vs. Crystal Palace

1

NF

One change from Southampton win? Crystal Palace predicted lineup vs. Chelsea

2

OC

Preview: Lyon vs. Montpellier - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

3

PL

Preview: Hull City vs. Leeds - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

4

PH

Team News: Valencia vs. Real Madrid injury, suspension list, predicted XIs

5

TN

Preview: Barbastro vs. Barcelona - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PB

Latest 'twist' in Rashford saga as Man United star 'rejects three huge offers'

7

L'

Preview: Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea - prediction, team news, lineups

8

PC

Szczesny debut? Araujo to start? How Barcelona could line up vs. Barbastro

9

SD

'There's a good chance he might be benched': Pep to make big call vs. West Ham?

10

'A


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