Kasper Schmeichel says Leicester up for fight in Champions League

13 April 2017 10:39

Kasper Schmeichel insists Leicester can still book a dream Champions League semi-final spot.

The Foxes lost 1-0 to Atletico Madrid in their quarter-final first leg at the Vicente Calderon Stadium on Wednesday.

They welcome the LaLiga side to the King Power Stadium on Tuesday aiming to avenge their controversial defeat in Spain after Antoine Griezmann's dubious penalty winner.

Leicester lost 2-1 to Sevilla in their last 16 first leg before winning 2-0 at home to go through 3-2 on aggregate, and Schmeichel vowed they will not give up.

He said: "Why not? I've always said 'Why not?' European nights are something special, especially the home nights. The crowd have really responded to them and have been fantastic.

"It's amazing to play in them and we're really looking forward to it. There's a semi-final in the Champions League on the line so there couldn't be a bigger incentive. I think everyone is very much up for the fight."

But the 30-year-old was still upset after referee Jonas Eriksson awarded a first-half penalty despite Marc Albrighton fouling Griezmann outside the box.

"We're still in the tie and that was the aim. Very disappointed that such a big decision has gone the wrong way for us," he said.

"It really should have been 0-0. We had a game plan and it got.I'd better choose my words carefully here. Let's say it was changed by external circumstances."

Albrighton echoed Schmeichel and believes Craig Shakespeare's side will take the game to Atletico in the return match.

"We will be more aggressive in our play going forward and take a couple more chances. We are going to have to," said the winger, with the Foxes also travelling to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.

"We got to a point (in the opening leg) at 1-0 where we felt let's hold on to what we have got and just stay in the tie. They would have liked more of a cushion going back to Leicester."

Albrighton also admitted he would welcome video replays in the Champions League to avoid mistakes after Eriksson's blunder.

Australia's A-League trialled the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system earlier this month, while it was also put to the test by FIFA during a recent international friendly between France and Spain.

"I think there is people deciding that and it could only be good for the game," he said. "It would be nice to see it get trialled and see how it works out.

"But we can't dwell on it too much. It is disappointing from my point of view and the lads' point of view but we have to move on."

Source: PA