Champions League & Europa League build-up - Leicester news conference

SMS Message: Back in 2005, I was only 19. I'd been having a few beers at a mate's house watching the game. He wasn't that into football. Switched the game off at half-time and continued drinking. It was only when we got to Kelly's night club in Portrush, Northern Ireland, that I discovered Liverpool had turned it round. Raucous atmosphere in there that night from the Liverpool fans. from John, Northern Ireland

Back in 2005, I was only 19. I'd been having a few beers at a mate's house watching the game. He wasn't that into football. Switched the game off at half-time and continued drinking. It was only when we got to Kelly's night club in Portrush, Northern Ireland, that I discovered Liverpool had turned it round. Raucous atmosphere in there that night from the Liverpool fans.

Inter Milan against Real Madrid looks like it'll be an interesting game but the pick of the bunch there is the repeat of the 2005 Champions League final, when Liverpool pulled off a remarkable fightback against AC Milan before winning on penalties.

The Reds will also face Atletico Madrid and Porto in Group B.

• Club Bruges v Paris Saint Germain
• Manchester City v RB Leipzig

• Atletico Madrid v FC Porto
• Liverpool v AC Milan
• Besiktas v Borussia Dortmund (17:45 BST)
• Sporting Lisbon v Ajax
• Sheriff Tiraspol v Shakhtar Donetsk (17:45 BST)
• Inter Milan v Real Madrid

SMS Message: OGS is a MUFC legend & it's very clear his heart is in it BUT, looking at it coldly, I question if he's able to motivate/inspire and get consistency. from Tony Cooley

OGS is a MUFC legend & it's very clear his heart is in it BUT, looking at it coldly, I question if he's able to motivate/inspire and get consistency.

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers on his squad depth: "We've been unfortunate [with injuries] over the last couple of seasons, but it's more than that. When you have success, you want to keep on winning. It's not just talent, it's about spirit and mentality. This competition is very important."

On summer signing Patson Daka playing in the Europa League, Rodgers added: "He's played European games so he understands the competition. As time goes by with him, you'll see him become a better player when he adapts to how we work. But he's settled in very well."

Action Images/ReutersCopyright: Action Images/Reuters

Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans has two years left on his contract and told Sky Sports he is "keeping his options open" while he continues to negotiate a potential new deal with the Foxes.

Now manager Brendan Rodgers has responded, saying: "I've seen what Youri said, he gave an honest answer. I have a player who is so committed and is one of the best professionals I've ever worked with. Talks are ongoing.

"He comes in every day and works hard, and because of the professionalism of Youri, that won't change whether he's here for five years or six months. It's up to his representatives and the club to determine how long he stays.

"I have no idea [why talks are taking so long]," Rodgers added. "I concentrate on the football. There's no drama. It only becomes a problem if there's a lack of commitment, but that's not a problem with Youri."

Leicester finished top of their group in last season's Europa League, only to be knocked out by Slavia Prague in the round of 32.

Manager Brendan Rodgers said: "My idea last season was to finish top of the group, so I select a side to go and win the games. That's exactly the same this season. Whatever team I put out, we'll look to get a positive result."

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Back to Thursday's Europa League games, and Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has now spoken with the media before his side host Italian side Napoli.

"They're a Champions League club and they arrive in the Europa League as one of the favourites to do well in it," he said.

SMS Message: Ole is the right man for Man U. He has had to rebuild the club culture and team, we are on a journey. He did very well last season in extraordinary circumstances. We will get there, this is building long term. from Tim

Ole is the right man for Man U. He has had to rebuild the club culture and team, we are on a journey. He did very well last season in extraordinary circumstances. We will get there, this is building long term.

ICYMI... Manchester City's local rivals United suffered a losing start to their Champions League campaign on Tuesday, with Jesse Lingard gifting Young Boys a stoppage-time winner.

Former United striker Romelu Lukaku then continued to impress on his return to Chelsea, scoring the only goal against Zenit St Petersburg.

Manchester City lost 1-0 to Chelsea in last season's Champions League final and boss Pep Guardiola hopes his players can use the loss as motivation for this season's competition - as they did in bouncing back from their disappointing quarter-final defeat to Lyon in 2020 to reach the final 12 months later.

"The players have feelings and soul, and you know it hurts when you cannot achieve," said the Spaniard.

"For them now it's a new, new challenge to try. When these guys win three Premier Leagues in the last four years, and every year we have the feeling that we can do better - we reached the final of the Champions League - yes, it's a motor. They want it."

This season will be Manchester City's 11th in succession in the Champions League but they have only got beyond the quarter-finals twice.

Manager Pep Guardiola has guided City to three of their Premier League crowns, including last season, but admits there are some who will still consider his reign a failure without European success.

"Every year it is the same," he said. "If I win the Champions League I'll be happy for the club but if we are not going to do it, we are not going to do it.

"You have to judge the success or not of my period. I try to do my best every single day and people can judge my job like I judge my players on how incredible they have done."

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Manchester City will aim to follow up Saturday's victory at Leicester by making a winning start to their Champions League campaign later.

Kevin de Bruyne and Phil Foden could be involved after overcoming ankle and foot injuries, respectively, while second-choice goalkeeper Zack Steffen remains unavailable after testing positive for Covid-19.

RB Leipzig were runners-up in Germany last season but have made a woeful start to this campaign under new manager Jesse Marsch.

They have lost three of their opening four Bundesliga games, including Saturday's 4-1 home defeat to Bayern Munich - now managed by their former boss Julian Nagelsmann.

Defender Marcelo Saracchi will miss the game as he continues to rehabilitate after a cruciate ligament tear, while Marcel Halstenberg is nursing an ankle problem.

Spanish left-back Angelino was fit enough to play an hour against Bayern after recovering from a muscular issue and could face his former side.

Will Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers choose to rest some of his key players after Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Manchester City or will he go with his best team?

You can pick - and share on social media - your own starting line-up. You could go for the team you WANT the boss to pick or the one you THINK he will.

Either way, it's time to choose your Foxes team to face Napoli.

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Napoli's president is film producer Aurelio de Laurentiis and, according to the Mail, he's said he is working on a plan for a pan-European league worth £8.5bn that will have qualification based on merit, unlike the plans for a European Super League that collapsed in April.

That's one of the top stories in today's gossip column.

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

And finally from Kasper Schmeichel, the Danish keeper had his say on facing Italian side Napoli on Thursday.

"I'm hoping for another special night," said the Leicester captain.

"Last season we had no fans and that took away from the [European] nights. We're expecting a tough game as Napoli have quality all over the pitch."

Rex/ShutterstockCopyright: Rex/Shutterstock

Kasper Schmeichel has also stressed Leicester's desire to keep making progress having won last season's FA Cup, as well as narrowly missing out on Champions League qualification the last two seasons.

"We are in a very good place," said the Foxes' captain. "We have had a lot of recent success but that means you have a choice to make. Are you content with that or do you want to progress and move on?

"That's what this club wants to do. The club continues to show it in the backing in the training ground, the expansion of the stadium and the transfer market.

"The club is always looking to improve. That's the most important thing to me, when you are in an organisation which has had success - the hunger is still there."

Rex/ShutterstockCopyright: Rex/Shutterstock

Kasper Schmeichel on succeeding Wes Morgan as Leicester captain: "Becoming captain is the greatest honour individually in football. They're massive shoes to fill... both literally and figuratively!"

Leicester captain Kasper Schmeichel on the Youri Tielemans interview: "I saw the interview, it was the journalist leading him more than anything. He's a brilliant player and, from a selfish point of view, I hope he's here for many more years."