Media Duties & Training For Leicester In Warsaw
The Foxes are in Poland looking to kick-start their UEFA Europa League campaign and take their Group C points tally up to four following the 2-2 draw with Napoli on Filbert Way earlier this month. Wojskowi, on the other hand, secured a hugely impressive 1-0 win at Spartak Moscow.
Initially opened in 1930, Legia's home has now been extensively developed into one of the most atmospheric arenas in European football – a status boosted by the ferocious noise created by the home faithful on nights under the lights against the continent's best teams.
Leicester will be the latest visitors to sample that environment on Thursday, but 24 hours earlier, it was a lot calmer in the Polish capital as Barnes and then Rodgers took to the top table inside the press facilities at Stadion Wojska Polskiego. UK journalists were also in attendance in person.
“As a player, it’s a great opportunity to go and showcase as a team and individually how good we are,” explained Academy graduate Barnes. “It’s a big stage to play on, every player will tell you that. As a team, the further we can progress in the competition, it’s great for the Club.”
Rodgers, on the other hand, was next on media duties and provided an assessment of Czesław Michniewicz's home side: “They had a fantastic result in their last game. They’re very organised. The players are very gifted and they’re especially good in the counter-attack.
“We’re obviously very mindful of their qualities, but we’ve started to be like ourselves more in the last few games. Hopefully we can bring that to Legia and make it really difficult for them.”
The Club's players then headed out onto the field of play for a matchday-1 training session, 15 minutes of which was open for the visiting media to capture, as Rodgers and his backroom team perfected their tactical planning for the Polish champions.
Earlier in the day, Legia manager Michniewicz also discussed his stratagem for tackling the Foxes in what will be the first-ever competitive meeting between Leicester and a Polish side. The former goalkeeper believes they have done their due diligence on the FA Cup holders over previous weeks.
“I watched all the games that Leicester has played this season,” he said. “We watched the matches against Brighton and Millwall very carefully as both teams play in a similar tactical set-up. We are prepared the same way as for any other match and we are not making it a bigger event.
“We, as coaches, but also players, are used to the fact that in every game we have to be perfectly prepared to play at this European level.”
In the evening, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Ademola Lookman caught up with members of the Blue Army back home. Two of the Club's most iconic former captains, Steve Walsh and Matt Elliott, were also on hand to tell tales of yesteryear from across their careers.
After being asked a question by Kate, Lookman revealed his reasoning for joining the Foxes: "Over the years, I've known Leicester to be a top, top team who help players to raise their game. For me, working with Brendan Rodgers, with his history with players, that was also a big factor in that."
Dewsbury-Hall, on the other hand, was quizzed about the song the Blue Army sing about him by Steve: "That was a surreal moment, I can't lie! I heard it in pre-season at QPR and the reception at Norwich was amazing. As a player, that's what you want. It's a great song as well! I love it when you sing it!"