Daka: Another Step Towards Reaching Our Best

- Leicester City recorded a 3-1 victory over Derby County on Saturday
- Patson Daka got his name on the scoresheet at Pride Park
- The forward netted his third goal of pre-season in the process
- Confidence is building each week ahead of the new season, he reveals

Part of the matchday squad which travelled across the Midlands to face Derby County on Saturday afternoon, just a couple of hours before the other half of the Foxes’ squad beat Preston North End, Daka was on the scoresheet in a 3-1 win over their near neighbours.

And speaking to LCFC TV following the conclusion of Saturday’s friendly, the Zambian international gave his assessment of the workout, citing the importance of getting more minutes under their belts prior to the new campaign kicking off.

“I think it was a very great game,” said the forward, who played 90 minutes at the weekend. “Not only from us, but also from them, it was really great. The intensity was great, but at the end of the day, it was more about the fitness than the scoreline.

“But I’m glad that we managed to get a few goals in. The fans really made it interesting. It felt like it was a Premier League game, the atmosphere was really great. I’m just happy that we’ve at least given our fans something to smile about.

“It was great for everyone, not only for me. You can see that we are not at our very best, we are still trying to reach our best. I think it’s a great step for us to build on and we’re heading in the right direction. We needed it.”

His 79th-minute goal edged the away side back ahead after Tom Barkhuizen had cancelled out Kelechi Iheanacho’s opener, before Callum Wright sealed the 3-1 victory with three minutes to play.

A third strike of pre-season, the former RB Leipzig frontman heads up City’s individual goal chart across the friendlies, level with Harvey Barnes. Daka will be hoping to improve on his 2021/22 tally of 11 in 38 games, as he enters his second season in English football.  

The 23-year-old explained: “It’s always a great feeling (to score), it builds your confidence as a player and I’m just happy that I was on the scoresheet again today. It was a great pass from [Papy] Mendy, so I just had to make sure that I finished it and I’m glad that it was a great goal at the end of it.

“We spoke about it yesterday in training. I just told him, when you get the ball, just look up and I will be ready to run. I’m glad that he remembered, so when he got it, he looked at me and it was the perfect ball.

“I set targets – long-term and short-term – so for now it’s focusing on the short-term targets that I have. During this pre-season, I am going step by step, and looking at the goals I have set, I am getting there each and every day. I am really happy so far with the way things are going.”

Sevilla are up next for Brendan Rodgers’ men in the final fixture before the campaign begins. A 6pm BST kick-off at King Power Stadium on Sunday, it provides one final opportunity to increase match sharpness against quality opposition.  

“It’s a very big game, an interesting one,” Daka added. “I think that’s why it was really important for everyone to get 90 minutes today, because it’s another interesting game coming up.

“Everyone wants to give their best, so I think we just try to utilise this coming week so that everyone gets a chance to play at the weekend and just get involved to help the team.”