Johansson Grasps Foxes Opportunity With Both Hands
The 20-year-old joined the Foxes last summer and made 27 appearances for the Under-23s during 2018/19, earning a nomination for the Club’s Development Squad Player of the Year prize.
Following a full pre-season with Leicester, which has included trips to Évian-les-Bains, Jersey and Poland, Johansson is already excited by what the new season could have in store for City’s youngsters.
The time spent in Évian was particularly enjoyable for Johansson who, alongside several other Under-23s players, experienced a week away with Brendan Rodgers’ senior squad on the shores of Lake Geneva.
Working closely with first team shot-stoppers Kasper Schmeichel, Danny Ward and Eldin Jakupović, Johnasson says it was an opportunity which he will remember for a long time.
“It’s been a really good pre-season for me,” Viktor says. “I was luckily enough to be involved with the first team along with some of the other Under-23s lads in Évian.
“That was a great experience and it’s been good to get that training in over the summer. It’s been hard work and a challenge at time, but it’s been good to be back.
“You learn different things from different people so it’s about trying to gather all that information. I train with the first team lads in Leicester quite often, but it was a closer environment in France.
“It’s a really nice feeling to be with the boys and all the staff. You learn so much, both on the pitch and off the pitch, and we’ve all been working hard.”
Following a break in Sweden with his family and a comprehensive pre-season schedule, Johansson says Leicester’s Under-23s are ready to confront the 2019/20 season with energy and enthusiasm.
It was discovered earlier this week that City will commence their Premier League 2 Division 1 campaign with an away tie at Everton, the reigning title holders, on Monday 12 August (7pm BST kick-off).
Following that, an exciting King Power Stadium double-header, versus Blackburn Rovers and Brighton & Hove Albion awaits the Foxes, before they head to newly-promoted Wolves a week later.
“I’m really excited to get started,” Johansson says. “It’s going to be a tough game to start. They are the champions, but we’re a decent side as well so hopefully we can start the season with three points.
“Everyone’s hungry for the season and you always want to improve on the season before. We started really well last year and we need to do that again and then continue it after Christmas.
“We know we have to take it one game at a time and I’m sure it’ll be a good season for us.”
The Development Squad’s ranks have been bolstered with a string of exciting new arrivals, including forwards Ali Reghba and George Hirst, alongside defenders Mitchell Clark and Vontae Daley-Campbell.
Reghba in fact played two games on trial with Leicester last season, scoring twice in a brilliant 3-0 victory at Swansea City, while Hirst starred for Oud-Heverlee Leuven in the Belgian Proximus League.
Elsewhere, Clark featured 45 times for Port Vale in the Football League last term and is a former team-mate of Johansson’s following their mutual time together at Aston Villa’s academy.
England Under-18s right back Daley-Campbell, on the other hand, joins the Foxes after a spell with Arsenal, where he was a regular for the Gunners in the Under-18 Premier League.
“With the new players and some young players coming up, it’s a good test for all of us,” Johansson adds. “They keep us on our toes and they’ve fitted in really well with the group over the summer.
“I know Mitch already from our time together at Aston Villa, I’ve known him for about five years, so it’s great to have him here with us at Leicester City.
“Ali, Vontae and Hirsty are three great lads. I know Ali from his trial spell with us last season and he was great for us during that short time and obviously Hirsty played for OH Leuven last season.
“I met him out in Évian and I’ve got to know Vontae a little bit since too. It’s been really good to get to know them all so we’re all excited about what we can do together this season.”
Leicester City supporters will once again be able to watch every Development Squad fixture for free on LCFC TV during the 2019/20 campaign.