Ndidi's Determined Pre-Season Focus
- Leicester City will soon conclude their first week of pre-season preparations in Seagrave
- Wilfred Ndidi was among the players to return to the Club's training ground for summer training
- The Nigerian has been thrilled to be back with his team-mates after over a month away
- All focus is on ensuring the 2021/22 season brings more success for the Foxes, Ndidi says
The Foxes concluded the 2020/21 campaign in fifth place in the Premier League after lifting the Emirates FA Cup for the first time and they're now back at LCFC Training Ground in Seagrave preparing for the new season - the Club's eighth successive year in the top flight.
Testing drills and light ball work has been on the agenda during the first week, which Ndidi admits is always a challenge, but the Nigeria international has been delighted to link back up with his team-mates after over a month away.
"It’s been tough and it’s been really good," he told LCFC TV. "After the break, we need the pre-season. We’re used to it, so it’s normal for us, but I’ve missed playing! It’s just one month or so, so being back and starting training with the lads, just running and playing football, it feels refreshing. It’s really nice.
"It’s been great because being away from these lads for over a month, coming back to see them, with great smiles, and everyone’s happy, it’s really good.
"Seeing everyone happy and ready to go, it’s really good, as a team and as a family. I look forward to what’s coming ahead. In pre-season, we take it slowly. We don’t rush into playing games. It’s training in order to play the games, to get the muscles going and the cobwebs out.
"It’s just something we’re planning. Slowly, slowly, we’ll be ready for the games."
Many of City's players experienced glory for the first time in their Leicester journeys last term as Brendan Rodgers' men won the FA Cup and Ndidi says the squad are fully aware of what went well - and what didn't - last season. The 24-year-old believes that will be a motivating factor this year.
"Now we’re just putting in the work," he added. "We're beginning to get our fitness and trying to look ahead to the games. We’ve always known [Rodgers'] philosophy and everything.
"We know our targets. We, as players, we know what we want as a group. We know what we want to achieve and I think it’s something that we all look forward to.
"I’m really proud of the group with what we achieved last season. It was a really great feeling. Some of the players weren’t here when Leicester won the league, which was a great, great feeling, and the players who weren’t here then, we have a feeling of actually winning something.
"It’s an incredible feeling and it’s something we want to push and look forward to having that feeling again. It’s really great. It’s something we push for and we’ll see what comes out of this season."