Ndidi: We Believe In Ourselves

- Wilfred Ndidi previews Wednesday's Carabao Cup last-eight tie at Liverpool (7:45pm GMT kick-off)
- Leicester City face the Reds at Anfield hoping to reach the competition's semi-finals stage
- Ndidi discusses training when two of the Club's recent fixtures have been postponed
- The Nigeria international also speaks of the players' confidence after winning the FA Cup last term

The Foxes will have experienced a 10-day pause in competitive action by the time they walk out of the tunnel at Anfield on Wednesday evening after Premier League fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Everton were postponed due to positive COVID-19 cases at the Club.

Some players have been in isolation over that period of time, while others have picked up injuries, meaning training has been broken at LCFC Training Ground in Seagrave. Ndidi, 25, admits it has been a tough spell for the first team squad but is glad that Leicester are returning to matches.

"It’s been difficult because we haven’t really had time to train as a group," the Nigeria international told LCFC TV. "We have to follow the protocol and it’s been difficult because we haven’t been together as a group. We’ve been training individually because of COVID-19, but we’ll just see what comes.

"It feels like [it’s been a long time since Leicester’s last game]. We had be at home for some days so it feels so long. Now we have a game coming up, but we haven’t really trained properly together. It feels a little bit better now, but as a group, everyone is not yet back.

"As a group, we know what we want and I’m happy because we’re getting back together."

City lifted their first-ever FA Cup crown last season after beating Chelsea in the final at Wembley Stadium – and Ndidi says that achievement can give the squad confidence in this season's Carabao Cup. The Foxes have lifted the trophy three times before, most recently in 2000.

"It gives us this mindset that it is achievable, it is possible, no matter the team you are playing," he added. "It is really possible. The confidence is here. When you think back to that amazing feeling of winning the FA Cup, it is something we have in our minds that we can achieve things together as a group.

"We’ve done it and it we can still do it. We’ve done it before and we can do it. It all depends on us to actually be at our best in every single game."

Liverpool may well have selection issues of their own in Merseyside on Wednesday night, but regardless of who players, Ndidi is confident that Leicester can produce a performance in the Club's final competitive outing before Christmas.

"They’re the same as us because we’ll be having some players missing," he continued. "They also might have [some players missing], but it’s football. Sometimes you have players injured. It’s something you have to deal with, but for them also. It’s a game where we can get something out of it.

"We’re going there to get something out of it. We believe in ourselves and we just need to do it. You will see the confidence comes from there."

In City's last fixture, a 4-0 victory over Newcastle United at King Power Stadium, Ndidi was forced to deputise in central defence after an early injury to Jonny Evans. The former Genk midfielder has played in that deeper role before and was happy to step into the breach to help the team.

"It was really strange because it’s been so long," Lagos-born Ndidi explained. "You had to go back into defence during the game, not a day before, knowing you would actually be playing in defence. It’s a different mindset during the game, but I was ready for it anyway. I’ll always try my best.

"I’m up for anything, but my most preferred position is in the midfield because there’s lots to do. In that moment, I was just trying to be myself in that position, and trying to keep it simple."