Shakespeare: We Stuck To The Plan

- Leicester City advance to the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Finals after a 3-2 aggregate win over Sevilla on Tuesday evening 

- Goals from Wes Morgan and Marc Albrighton handed the Foxes a 2-0 win on the night at King Power Stadium 

- Manager Craig Shakespeare hailed City’s ability to stick to their gameplan as they outplayed the visitors 

- Samir Nasri saw red for a second yellow card in the second half while Kasper Schmeichel saved a penalty from Steven N’Zonzi 

Leicester City’s ability to stick to their game plan was the foundation of their sensational UEFA Champions League victory over Sevilla at King Power Stadium on Tuesday night according to Craig Shakespeare. 

The Foxes overcame a 2-1 first leg deficit to secure a 2-0 victory – meaning they progressed to the quarter-finals with a 3-2 aggregate scoreline – alongside world football’s biggest names. 

It truly was a momentous evening for the Football Club and one second only to last season’s Premier League title victory, with the Foxes making their intentions known with an energetic, high pressing approach from early on. 

The reward came when captain Wes Morgan bundled home a Riyad Mahrez free kick in the first half before Marc Albrighton doubled that lead in the second half. Sevilla were reduced to 10 men when Samir Nasri saw red for a second yellow card while Kasper Schmeichel saved a Steven N’Zonzi penalty to avoid extra time and book City’s spot in the last eight. 

Afterwards, a delighted Shakespeare, who was taking charge of his first game as permanent manager, said: “I was very pleased [with the players]. Of course in a cup tie of this stature against one of the best teams in Europe, we needed to make sure that we kept cool heads. 

“We also needed to show a competitive edge and I think we showed that from the first minute. I think we set our stall out really well from the first minute. That was the game plan, to try to make it as uncomfortable as we could for Sevilla. We didn’t want them playing their passing game and you could see that from the first minute.” 

The Foxes will now discover their quarter-final fate on Friday morning and the manager was quick to pay tribute to the role of the supporters in the achievement after an unforgettable atmosphere on Tuesday. 

He added: “We know when the crowd get behind us here it can lift the players but also the players can lift the fans with the type of football that we started with from the first minute. 

“It (a quarter-final) would be memorable for everybody at the Football Club, myself included, but the supporters too. They got behind us from the very first minute. Everybody associated with the Football Club can be proud of that performance tonight.”