Talking Heads: Rodgers, Skrypnyk, Evans & Shevchenko On Europa League Clash
- Zorya Luhansk visit Filbert Way to face Leicester City in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday
- The 8pm kick-off will be City's first entrance into the competition in its current format
- Brendan Rodgers and Jonny Evans previewed the fixture in the media on Wednesday
- Zorya manager Viktor Skrypnyk and goalkeeper Mykyta Shevchenko also addressed the press
The Foxes' first European fixture since a UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final epic against Atlético Madrid in 2017 sees them host Viktor Skrypnyk's Zorya in Leicester.
Luhansk, on the other hand, have appeared in the Europa League, or its qualification phases, in each of the past seven seasons as they continue to also impress domestically.
Ahead of the fixture, on Wednesday, figures from both camps engaged with the media to preview what promises to be an intriguing encounter at Leicester City Stadium...
Brendan Rodgers told the press via video call at Belvoir Drive: "We would like to go as far as we possibly can. I think it's always an exciting time. I remember watching the Sevilla final and just seeing the joy that they had of winning and obviously then qualification again for European football. So that's, of course, a big motivation for any team that comes into it. I think you strip it back, but your first job is to get out of the group stage, but of course, we want to go as far as we possibly can."
Speaking at Leicester City Stadium, Viktor Skrypnyk said: "I know we are not favourites, but football is football, it is anybody’s game. We are looking forward to experience this beautiful stadium and atmosphere here in the UK. In every game, we work towards the same result, to show maximum effort. We hope to show our country in the best light. We have studied their games and tactics. At the end of the day, it’s not strategy that is playing, it is people who are playing."
Jonny Evans on starting with a home game: "We're stepping into maybe a wee bit of the unknown in a sense that they've played a lot of times in the Europa League, so they probably have more experience than us at that, but it's a home game and it's a game that we definitely want to come away from with three points and get off to a good start. We know it's going to be a tough group to get out of, but we're confident that if we got off to a good start, it would help."
Shot-stopper Mykyta Shevchenko on facing the Foxes: "We are looking forward to this game against a very good team and we are looking forward to showing our qualities in the game. They have very good players, young and experienced players, but it is the same for our squad. Each match in this competition is like a celebration for us. All our efforts will be on the 90 minutes. Football is unpredictable. Anything can happen on the pitch, so we are all going to do our best."
All times BST.