Faes: A Lot Of Competition

LCFC Men
04 Aug 2024
2 Minutes
Competition for places is rising in the Leicester City squad as the new Premier League season edges closer, says defender Wout Faes.

- Wout Faes speaks after Leicester City's 1-0 friendly loss to Augsburg in Germany
- The Belgium defender is excited by the work being done by new Manager Steve Cooper
- He also says the players are pushing each other well in training two weeks out from the new season

Faes was one of several players to return to pre-season training a little later after representing Belgium at UEFA EURO 2024 and was involved in Saturday's 1-0 friendly reverse against Bundesliga outfit Augsburg

"As a footballer you want to win even if it’s a friendly game so that’s a bit disappointing but overall I think, in general, there was some good play," the former Stade de Reims centre-back said.

"We know we have bits to improve on and we will speak on them in the next week back at Seagrave. But I think overall it was a satisfying afternoon.

"Obviously it’s a new Manager so we’re picking up all of his ideas, all of his small adjustments. We’re doing that and, obviously for the internationals, coming back a little bit later, we have to do it in a shorter period of time.

"But I think we’re managing it and pre-season results is always a bit of a tricky one. You need to start winning games and hopefully we can do it next week in France."

Working with Steve Cooper, who was appointed in June, has been a source of excitement for Faes, who says the players are pushing each other with competition rife to be in that first XI of the new campaign.

"It's exciting," he added. "I think everyone’s excited for getting back started again in the Premier League. It’s an obvious one. Everyone wants to show their qualities to the new Manager, the new staff, so everybody is on a clean slate let’s say.

"That’s a good thing, there’s a lot of competition in the group, we’ll push each other higher and then it’s up to the Manager to make the choices.

"[The Premier League is] where all players want to be and it’s a big achievement to be back straight away, but we know we have to be competitive at that level as well. We’re working hard to be ready for the Tottenham game."