Evans: We're Ready For Latest European Adventure
- Leicester City's European adventure begins with a home game against Zorya Luhansk on Thursday evening (8pm kick-off)
- Jonny Evans spoke to the national and international media in Wednesday's pre-match press conference
- The defender believes they will come up against a tough opponent in Ukrainian side Zorya
- He also recalled his debut in Europe and how the experience will be different to domestic competition for the younger members of the squad
Zorya Luhansk provide the first test for the Foxes, in Thursday's opening Group G fixture at Leicester City Stadium (8pm kick-off).
Evans made his debut in European competition back in 2007, playing in the UEFA Champions League for Manchester United, against another Ukrainian club, Dynamo Kyiv.
Although he has experience at this level, several of his teammates will be going into unknown territory and making their own bow in the UEFA Europa League.
"You’re not used to playing these games and there’s excitement of away games and travelling around Europe with your team-mates and going to these different stadiums," Evans revealed.
"They’re experiences that you never get back if you don’t experience them in your career, they’re great occasions and for us as a Club.
"It’s something we’ve been looking forward to, I’m sure we’ll relish it and we’re in every competition to win it.
"It's a really big test for the young lads and I'm sure it's one they'll all be ready for. It will be great for their careers and their future and also their learning experience within the game.
"Going back to that game (against Dynamo Kyiv), I was trying to recall that game a few days ago when I was talking to someone.
"I just remember it being really, really cold out there! I actually don’t remember I came on, funnily enough. That was my debut in European competitions and I can’t remember it!"
Evans: We're In Every Tournament To Win
Leicester City defender Jonny Evans spoke to the media on Wednesday ahead of the visit of Zorya Luhansk in the UEFA Europa League.
Leicester's last venture into Europe came during the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League, when, fresh from being crowned Premier League champions, City progressed out of the group stage and reached the quarter-finals, before narrowly losing to Atlético Madrid over two legs.
Following three years without European competition, Evans is not taking the Europa League or their first opponents, who were drawn from pot four, for granted.
"I wouldn’t say I was confident," the defender admitted. "I never really thought about it probably until I came to Leicester and we were saying that it’s something that’s been talked about at the Club for a number of years.
"It was one of the targets that we set last season to start maybe thinking about that again and obviously we’ve managed to do that.
"As the season went on last year, it became more of a reality for us, we got off to a good start in the league and I’m really grateful that happened and really excited and looking forward to it."
"You really can't underestimate any side that you are playing against in Europe, there's a reason why they are in the competition.
"The manager made that point today, that they are the best teams in their country and in their league, so they are used to winning games and they'll be really competitive."
With Çağlar Söyüncü currently out of action, Evans could be partnered alongside new signing Wesley Fofana on Thursday evening. The French Under-21 international impressed Evans during his Premier League debut against Aston Villa last weekend.
Evans added: "I thought he [Wesley Fofana] had an excellent game (against Aston Villa), he's a really young lad but you can see that potential that he's got.
"He's already putting in big performances for his previous Club and he's come in and had a really good debut.
"It's exciting to see a young lad like that coming through with that amount of talent and he's going to be a top player for Leicester for sure."
All times BST.