Leicester City will be kicking off their UEFA champions league campaign in Group G against Portuguese side, FC Porto, and their manager, Claudio Raineri, has said that the Foxes are not favourites to progress from the group stage.
The English Premier League defending champions, who are making their champions league debut this season, have struggled with their domestic league campaign, losing their opening game against Hull City and playing a goalless draw against Arsenal in their second game.
Raineri is obviously not expecting too much from his players when they commence their European sojourn, facing other top clubs in Europe, starting from next month.
"I’m so pleased for both my players and for the city of Leicester as we look forward to an exciting season in the Champions League together."
"Now that the teams have been drawn that excitement is building even more and although it won’t be easy against great champions like Porto, like everyone, I’m curious to see how my players perform."
Despite City’s status as league champions, the manager insists that his team won’t be favourites against three teams who boast considerably more European experience than themselves.
Porto have won the tournament twice, Club Brugge were finalists in 1978 while FC Copenhagen have reached the knockout stages as recently as 2011.
"Once again I say we are underdogs," said Ranieri.
"For this reason we must fight for everything. I want to see my players fight against the best in Europe.
"Every team in the competition will fight like champions and we must give 100 per cent to make our supporters proud. "
"Last season was wonderful but I want more. Now we are in the Champions League and we have another wonderful opportunity to show our quality."
"We know we have three tough away games but when we arrive at our stadium that is when I know we can show something special with our supporters behind us."
"Also I think our supporters deserve the chance to watch their team around Europe against teams like Porto, Club Brugge and FC Copenhagen, who are great European teams."
"They deserve this and I ask my players to help our wonderful supporters to enjoy this journey with us by giving everything they have on the pitch. It will be tough, but we come into this competition to win games and we want so much to progress into the knockout stages."
The English Premier League defending champions, who are making their champions league debut this season, have struggled with their domestic league campaign, losing their opening game against Hull City and playing a goalless draw against Arsenal in their second game.
"I’m so pleased for both my players and for the city of Leicester as we look forward to an exciting season in the Champions League together."
"Now that the teams have been drawn that excitement is building even more and although it won’t be easy against great champions like Porto, like everyone, I’m curious to see how my players perform."
Despite City’s status as league champions, the manager insists that his team won’t be favourites against three teams who boast considerably more European experience than themselves.
Porto have won the tournament twice, Club Brugge were finalists in 1978 while FC Copenhagen have reached the knockout stages as recently as 2011.
"Once again I say we are underdogs," said Ranieri.
"For this reason we must fight for everything. I want to see my players fight against the best in Europe.
"Every team in the competition will fight like champions and we must give 100 per cent to make our supporters proud. "
"Last season was wonderful but I want more. Now we are in the Champions League and we have another wonderful opportunity to show our quality."
"We know we have three tough away games but when we arrive at our stadium that is when I know we can show something special with our supporters behind us."
"Also I think our supporters deserve the chance to watch their team around Europe against teams like Porto, Club Brugge and FC Copenhagen, who are great European teams."
"They deserve this and I ask my players to help our wonderful supporters to enjoy this journey with us by giving everything they have on the pitch. It will be tough, but we come into this competition to win games and we want so much to progress into the knockout stages."
Leicester City Are Champions League Underdogs- Claudio Raineri
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Reviewed by Unknown
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