We'll Stay Focused On The Job, Says Levell
- LCFC Women face London City Lionesses in the FA Women's Championship on Sunday afternoon (2pm kick-off)
- The Foxes could clinch promotion to the Barclays FA Women's Super League for the first time with a win at Farley Way
- Kirstie Levell spoke to the media ahead of the encounter, highlighting why Leicester must stay grounded
- The recent record of four successive shutouts and conceding four in 11 games has been a team effort, she adds
The shot stopper has conceded just four times in the last 11 games and is currently on a run of four consecutive clean sheets, contributing to the Foxes' strong position at the top of the FA Women's Championship standings.
The 24-year-old credits the commanding defensive wall in front of her as a key factor in helping to ensure City's backline has not been breached in recent weeks, as well as the attacking play which has seen Leicester score a league high 48 goals this term.
And Levell believes that staying concentrated throughout the game has also led to the team being able to record 11 straight league victories, a run extended by the 2-0 triumph over Coventry United Ladies last Sunday.
"It's been quite chilled for some of the games," she joked, speaking in Thursday's virtual pre-match press conference via Zoom. "I think those are the type of games that every goalkeeper hates, but at the same time I'm just happy with how the outfield players are performing and keeping me at bay, not having to do as much, so it's the perfect game really.
"We practice it every day in a way. We play 11 vs. 11 and you might be on the team that is winning constantly and you're not really touching much of the ball and then all of a sudden you get a shot from an angry striker on the opposite team who wants to just get a goal, so we just have to stay switched on in those situations and build ourselves from there.
"Everyone knows, it's been drilled into us for a long time now, when we look back, we know we are very fortunate to be in this position we are in now and in this amazing facility.
"We knew where we were at the beginning of the season in terms of new players coming in and we've just gelled as a team. We've had to adapt really quickly to get to know each other's strengths and weaknesses and that's shown on the pitch I think this season."
The Foxes' only defeat of the league campaign came away to London City in November and wanting to put that right, combined with the individual accolades that are potentially available, gives the players extra motivation to take a positive result from the reverse fixture this weekend.
"It makes us even more eager to get that win and try and get a clean sheet out of it as well," the former Everton No.1 admitted. We've got players in our team like Tash Flint trying to get the golden boot and I'm sure she'll want to continue her progression.
LCFC Women 2 Coventry United Ladies 0
Extended highlights from Farley Way Stadium as LCFC Women sealed consecutive win no.11 in the FA Women's Championship.
"I want the golden glove at the end of the season so we've all got personal objectives, but I think the main one is definitely to seal the deal as soon as we can.
"I'm really excited. I think the last time I was in this position was with Everton in 2017 and I gained promotion with them from the WSL Spring Series. It was a very quick season and you've just got to live in the moment and enjoy the feeling of it.
"Back then, I was only young and I probably thought these opportunities will always come around and they really don't! I'm 24 now so it's been a good few years to try and win my next trophy so hopefully that can happen on Sunday.
"When I joined this Club I knew that it was a project and I knew it was going to be on a journey to go on with the team. I'm really glad that I chose this opportunity to come to Leicester."
Levell, who has played every minute of the season so far, believes it is important to get the balance right and not get too hyped up for the fixture, which could see Leicester crowned as champions and earn promotion to the Barclays FA Women's Super League.
"We've got to look at it like any other game this season," she explained. "We knew from the beginning what we wanted to achieve and each game we've said: 'this is the biggest game'.
"I think we're going to get that talk again and try to match previous games and try to not put too much pressure on ourselves. The team talk at the beginning of the game from Barks (Sophie Barker) and Remi [Allen], it helps you, it calms your nerves.
"And then once you're on the pitch you've got the older ones helping you through it and I like to think of myself as one of those to try and calm the back four as well, so it's just all about the communication with each other.
"We need to realise that this is one of the biggest opportunities we are going to get for a long time, to get our hands on a cup, and I think it's just about keeping grounded and picking each other up if someone is a bit down, because for some of the younger ones, they might be feeling quite overwhelmed with this.
"It's all about bringing people's personalities together and trying to balance each other. You've just got to keep the spirits high."
All times BST.