Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare says the Foxes can win the Champions League
Tuesday 14 March 2017 08:11, UK
Craig Shakespeare insists his Leicester side can shock world football again and win the Champions League.
The Foxes host Sevilla in the second leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday, trailing 2-1 from last month's clash in Spain, in what will be Shakespeare's first game as full-time manager after he was appointed on a deal until the end of the season.
Shakespeare, who takes over following Claudio Ranieri's February sacking, knows 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 Premier League triumph, 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.
"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 tomorrow night.
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"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, who was the Italian's assistant, believes Vardy's strike gives the tie a different complexion.
He said: "Evan after the first game we knew by getting the away goal we had given ourselves a great opportunity.
"The atmosphere will be electric and I'm expecting the team to take momentum from the two results [wins over Liverpool and Hull] and the confidence gained from that 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 their away goal.
"I'm quite calm and collected. Hopefully I'll stay calm so the players aren't over-emotional. Of course I'll be excited. We have to compete for the 90 minutes or extra-time. I understand the massive challenges ahead, no more so than tomorrow."
Shakespeare also revealed that the Foxes have practised penalties in case of a shoot-out on Tuesday night.
"We have, we are trying to leave no stone unturned - and by the way they were good, hopefully we can carry that on," Shakespeare added.