Schmeichel's Full Randers Focus

- Kasper Schmeichel previews Leicester City's clash with Randers FC on Thursday (5:45pm kick-off)
- The Foxes hold a 4-1 advantage from the first leg in the UEFA Europa Conference League tie
- City's captain outlined the players' desire to become the first winners of the competition
- Full focus must remain on the short-term, he says, and beating Randers this week

City take a 4-1 aggregate lead with them to Denmark this week ahead of Thursday's 5:45pm kick-off in Jutland. Although entering the competition by being knocked out of the Europa League, Schmeichel insists full focus is on adding to the Club's honours list in this new competition.

"It’s the final chance for silverware," City's No.1 said. "We have an opportunity in this competition to go far. As a player, you want to win trophies and to have the opportunity to be the first winner of this competition is something we, as a club, should be going for.

"Focus is on the next game. We’ll take whatever happens after that game if we do go through. We’ll take what comes, but we have to get through first. We have a good starting point, but we’d be foolish to take anything for granted."

Wilfred Ndidi put City ahead in the first leg on Filbert Way last week, before Vito Hammershøy-Mistrati's equaliser ahead of the interval. Harvey Barnes, Patson Daka and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, though, made sure of a comprehensive victory for Leicester.

The tightness of the early exchanges in that game serves as a warning to Schmeichel about the nature of the challenge this Thursday. The second leg tie is a highly anticipated fixture in Denmark with a passionate home following expected to greet the Foxes at Randers Stadium. 

"I think, particularly in the first half, they did well, considering they hadn’t played since December (due to Denmark's winter break)," he explained. "To come away from home and be drawing at half-time is a very good feat for them. I think the press were a bit harsh on them after the game.

"It was expected that we would win the game, but they put up a good fight. Their goalkeeper had a great game. All things considered, they had a decent performance, but in terms of the game tomorrow, we have to be fully professional. We have to go out there thinking it’s 0-0.

"We have to go and play the game as it’s meant to be played. We’ll take nothing for granted, I think that would be a big mistake on our part if we did that."

Leicester are searching for more consistency in the Premier League this term and Schmeichel is confident that a positive run in Europe can influence their fortunes domestically as well. 

"Wins build momentum, they build confidence," the Denmark international added. "Any game you can win will always be important for the squad as a whole. It’s an opportunity to go and progress in this tournament, which will build some confidence and it can help with that momentum, but we’ve got to go and do the job first.

"You’re going to run into seasons where you have problems like we’ve had this season with the consistency in our game. That’s just a part of life.

"You have to deal with that and you have to make sure that you mitigate as much as you can against that. There are so many unforeseen circumstances that pop up, particularly in these times, that have been difficult for us.

"It’s not an excuse because we should have the strength in depth to deal with that and we just haven’t been able to find that form. The worrying part would be if you’re coming into the training ground and feeling like people aren’t putting a shift in, but they are.

"We are working extremely hard and that’s why, at least from the inside, the perspective is still good for the season."

All times GMT.