Foxes Get To Work In Bangkok Open Training Session
Staged amid the Thai national stadium’s iconic orange and yellow stands – which in their entirety can hold just over 50,000 fans – the Foxes got to work in humid conditions, as thunder and lightning crackled in the skies above.
Enzo Maresca’s men will take on Tottenham Hotspur in a showcase friendly at the Rajamangala on Sunday – an 11am BST kick-off set to be broadcast live to Digital Members on Foxes Hub*. Following an intense session in 31 degrees Celsius, City's players signed King Power footballs, later kicking them into the stands for delighted fans to take home.
That was part of King Power’s Thai Power project – an initiative aiming to distribute one million footballs to inspire young people in Thailand. The training drills, on the other hand, will have offered the players a chance to continue building fitness and tactical plans in the Thai capital, as Maresca continues to finalise his preparations for the new Sky Bet Championship season.
In a fortnight, M69 foes Coventry City will arrive at King Power Stadium on the opening day. The Italian also spoke to the media on Saturday, alongside Foxes and England full-back James Justin. The former Luton Town man is back at full fitness after an Achilles injury which kept him out of a Leicester City line-up for most of last season.
Although Conor Coady has not travelled – with the Manager suggesting he could yet join Leicester at a later date in Southeast Asia – other new signings Harry Winks, Callum Doyle and Mads Hermansen all participated in the session.
"I’m very happy, proud and excited to be here, to see our supporters in Thailand," Maresca told the assembled media in the Thai capital. "We are in the pre-season moment now. The only thing we can do is to train every day and work to get better and better to be ready for the first official game.
"We invite [Thai people to the game]. We are very happy to see all our supporters. We have so many of them so tomorrow will be a big, good game against an important opponent. It’ll be good to have them with us in the stadium tomorrow.
"[I will see] how the team adapt to my idea, how we grow and improve. This is the only target I have in this moment."
Justin, meanwhile, is excited for the challenge posed by Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs, who have spent the past week in Australia before touching down in Thailand.
"We’re playing this game for the fans and to prepare for the season so it’ll only benefit us," Justin added. "The gaffer has drilled us through our processes and hopefully we can show them tomorrow.
"We have to go into every game confident. They’re a massive side. It’ll be a good game tomorrow and we hope we can get the win for the fans. We hope they will be watching tomorrow. It’s an honour to be in your country. We feel greatly welcomed and we appreciate that."