Put In The Work To Reap The Rewards, Says Bertrand
- Leicester City’s latest pre-season challenge comes from Spanish outfit Villarreal in Wednesday’s fixture at King Power Stadium
- Tickets remain on general sale and are available to purchase for the 7:45pm kick-off against the UEFA Europa League winners, here
- Full-back Ryan Bertrand believes City have prepared well for the campaign ahead, which begins with the Community Shield this weekend
- The England defender has been able to settle in quickly to life at Leicester, aided by the pre-season programme and training camp
UEFA Europa League winners Villarreal are set to arrive at King Power Stadium on Wednesday evening (7:45pm kick-off), as the Foxes’ final test looms before the season kicks off with the Community Shield on Saturday.
Prior to that meeting with Premier League champions Manchester City at Wembley Stadium (5:15pm kick-off), the FA Cup holders will get the chance to play in front of home support for the first time since May, with tickets now available on general sale.
For many, however, it will be an even longer awaited return to Filbert Way, and also marks a potential maiden appearance at the stadium for new signing Bertrand – a landmark he is looking forward to.
“It should be [a great occasion],” the England international told LCFC TV while at LCFC Training Ground in Seagrave this week. “I think it will hopefully bring everyone together.
“We’ve got that and then we’ve the Community Shield, but the home game at King Power Stadium, [we'll] get a feel-good atmosphere, finally get to wear the shirt there and it will be a really good evening.”
The Foxes’ Surrey training camp in the south east of England was his first outing with the squad and the full-back enjoyed the opportunity to build on fitness levels and develop relationships with his new team-mates over the course of the week.
Games against Wycombe Wanderers and Queens Park Rangers, following the pre-season opener at Burton Albion, have enabled Bertrand to grasp an even greater understanding of the strategies manager Brendan Rodgers wishes to deploy.
“It was good,” the former Southampton defender added. “It was a focused camp again and it was good to get to know the boys even further and we took some more steps in our fitness capacity and our tactical capacity.
“It was a positive week. We’re getting our work in, we’re getting fitter game by game, day by day, and obviously we know it’s creeping up around the corner, but that’s why we do it, to go and be successful.
“I think football is football. The small things and consistencies that your new team-mates do and how they like to operate, that probably takes a little bit of time to gel in terms of that aspect. But for me personally, the football is the same.”
All times BST.