A Good Night For Us, Says Maddison

- Leicester City registered a 3-0 win over Zorya Luhansk in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday
- Opening goalscorer James Maddison spoke to LCFC TV at full-time on Filbert Way
- Harvey Barnes and Kelechi Iheanacho also found the net for the Foxes
- The 23-year-old was delighted to mark his European debut with a goal against Zorya

Maddison's close-range finish opened the scoring for the Foxes on their maiden appearance in the competition, before Harvey Barnes and Kelechi Iheanacho also struck either side of half-time.

After helping City get off to a winning start on the European stage, the 23-year-old England international described the sense of satisfaction which was felt at full-time among the squad. 

"It's a good night," the central midfielder told LCFC TV. "Obviously for me and a few of the other lads, it's a first glimpse of European football, which is always nice.

"It's great to get off to a good start as well, it's important. It's a win at home, a clean sheet, three goals, three different goalscorers... it's a good night and one we can build on.

"In Europe, there's going to be times where the foreign teams who you don't necessarily know too much about are going to have the ball.

"They're going to have spells where they dominate and it's just about weathering that storm. I think we did that well.

"Kasper [Schmeichel] made a great save, but apart from that, I think, on the whole, 3-0 is probably fair. We watched clips on the team yesterday, and they started well.

"They had a lot possession in the diamond formation they play. They get a lot numbers in the field.

"We kind of tweaked it at half-time to kind of match up and gave very little away in the second half and it ended with a comfortable win."

Thursday's clash was also Maddison's debut in Europe and, following other landmarks, both in Leicester's colours and further afield, he was delighted to make the latest step in his career.

"They just keep coming," he continued. "You know, when you're a little boy playing in the garden at your mum and dad's house, it's nights like these that you dream of.

"First of all, it's obviously just making your professional debut at Coventry, like I did, then it's making your Championship debut, Premier League, country, Europe.

Gallery 22 Oct 2020

Leicester City 3 Zorya Luhansk 0

43

Photos

"They're all milestones that are brilliant to hit and another one tonight and nice to top off with a goal, it's always nice."

After making his second start of the 2020/21 season, Maddison is now hopeful that a hip problem is behind him ahead of a busy fixture schedule on several fronts.

"That'll be really good for me, today," he added. "Hopefully, I can come through unscathed, I feel good. Like I've said a few times, I missed pre-season.

"That's made me realise how important it is. It's the first pre-season I've actually missed in my career, from 16/17, through injury.

"And it's made me realise how important it actually is and the foundation of fitness when you're just running without the footballs on the training pitch for six weeks before the season.

"It makes you realise how important that actually is for you because I came back from a long-term injury and my first taste of action was the Premier League's first game.

"I got a few little niggles here and there in my calf and my quad and it takes time to get up to speed, but a good few days training in the past week and 65 minutes today, which will be good for me.

"Hopefully I can take that into Sunday's game (vs. Arsenal)."

Barnes, meanwhile, was in stellar form for the Foxes, netting his second goal of the campaign so far, and Maddison was thrilled to see his team-mate excel against the visitors from Ukraine.

"He's got that in the locker," he explained. "There's a reason why he got called up for England. He's just got that raw, natural athleticism and pace and he's a pleasure to play with when he's like that.

"I think the right-back and the right-sided centre-half will be thinking: 'Wow, that guy was good'. That's what the Premier League is all about. A great night for him, a good goal, and hopefully he can build on that."