Ambitious Shakespeare Outlines City Aim
- Craig Shakespeare says he is eager to get started after Leicester City’s squad took part in their first pre-season training session on Monday
- The Foxes boss was delighted with the summer additions of assistant manager Michael Appleton and defender Harry Maguire
- Shakespeare has been pleased with his squad’s application during pre-season testing
Shakespeare – City’s assistant manager for five-and-a-half seasons – signed a three-year deal with the Club and oversaw his first training session as permanent manager on Monday, when the players reported for pre-season testing.
Speaking exclusively to LCFC TV, Shakespeare said: “I’m obviously very pleased to be in the role permanently. From my point of view, talks went well after the season finished. I knew the process and I was kept informed all along.
“It allowed me to go away on holiday and relax and switch off. It was a bit of a manic end to the season. I was put in charge in February and we had to play a lot of games. I have to pay tribute to the staff because they gave me tremendous support and we had to deal with it just as the players did.
“We had to finish on a high at the end of the season, but it was nice to get it sorted early. It allowed me to switch off, get a bit of sunshine and come back raring to go. I’m really looking forward to the start of the season.”
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Given the quality within the squad, Shakespeare is optimistic about his side’s chances during the 2017/18 campaign but will not set a points target.
He continued: “I’ll talk to the players about setting goals and targets because I think that’s important. My own view is I’m not a fan of saying we have to get to the 40-point target – I think we have to aim higher than that.
“Premier League survival is good, but I look at the squad and the players we’re trying to attract – I want to be better than that and I think the players want to be better than that.
“I think our aim is to try and be competitive in every match, whether we’re playing Chelsea as Premier League winners last season or a team that’s just come up. There will be targets internally and privately and I think it’s important that the players know what’s required.”
The Leicester manager was thrilled with last month’s addition of defender Harry Maguire, who impressed in his maiden training session at Belvoir Drive.
“We set our stall out early doors with the signing of Harry Maguire,” said Shakespeare. “I was really pleased that the Club aggressively went in the market for Harry.
“Having seen him in his first day at training, I’m reassured of what a good signing it’ll be. He’s the right age and has Premier League experience, so it was good to be backed in the market in that case and hopefully in the future.”
Another man to join the Foxes this summer was former Oxford United boss Michael Appleton, who was named as the Club’s assistant manager in June.
Discussing Appleton’s qualities, Shakespeare said: “First and foremost, he’s a good person which is important, but he’s also a good coach. For someone of his age, he’s got good managerial experience and I’ve worked with him before briefly at West Bromwich Albion.
“When the opportunity to came to speak with Michael, I was delighted for him to come on board, which I suppose was big for him having being a manager.
“He’s now working in the Premier League where he wants to work and I think he’ll be a great addition. Having seen him out there with the lads, he’s already settling in.
“We’re all different characters and I think it’s important that on the managerial set-up, we’re not all the same.
“We probably have the same values because we want players to express themselves and go to work with desire and application. Ultimately, we all have our own personalities which is important for the players to see.”
Shakespeare was pleased with his squad’s performance levels after 14 players returned for pre-season testing, while City’s international stars will reconvene at the end of the week.
The City boss added: “It’s interesting as a manager because you look forward to coming back after time off. You look forward to seeing everyone. As a player, regardless of your age, there’s a bit of trepidation about the first day back.
“We haven’t got the whole group yet back, some of the internationals aren’t back, but I saw some nervous players. People will say that they’ve played 300 or 400 games, but I think players are always nervous on their first day back.
“We’ve done some fitness running and also got the balls out which isn’t new nowadays but it used to be that you never used to until the second or third week. The application and fitness levels are really pleasing and we’re looking forward to the week ahead.”