Ricardo: We’ll Have To Work Hard

- Ricardo Pereira is the latest Leicester City player to feature in CITY
- The official LCFC matchday magazine will be available on Saturday
- The Foxes welcome Watford to King Power Stadium (3pm GMT kick-off)

Ricardo has been through a lot over his five years at Leicester. The Portuguese full-back has experienced highs and lows, but under the guidance of Enzo Maresca this term, things are once again looking up for the Foxes.

Coming out of the final international break of the calendar year top of the Sky Bet Championship, City’s focus is locked on an immediate return to the Premier League. Despite two successive defeats before the pause in domestic football, Leicester still hold an eight-point advantage over third place in the second-tier standings.

Earlier this week, Ricardo took time out of a busy training schedule to reflect on the recent developments on Filbert Way, to explain his new tactical role in Maresca’s XI, and to preview the coming weeks for Leicester City. The former FC Porto star is optimistic that the Blue Army will have plenty of reasons for cheer as the festive season approaches.

"Of course, we want to be back on track," he told the Club's official matchday magazine. "My thoughts after the Middlesbrough game are that I’d have liked to have had another game three days after it. That was the feeling we all had.

"In my opinion, we played well and deserved more. At the same time, we’ve had some time to rest a little bit, to recharge the batteries and hopefully we can get back on track with a win against Watford.

"It’ll be a big challenge. For us, being top of the league, everyone wants to get a good result against us. We know that. This game won’t be any different. Like any game we have, it’ll be a difficult, tough game. They have all been difficult in different ways this season. We’ll have to work hard to get a good result, but we’ll be ready for the challenge."

Bringing smiles back to City fans' faces after last season is something which particularly pleases Ricardo.

"It’s a big difference especially after last season," he added. "I speak for myself and I think the whole team – and the fans too – when things don’t go as we want them to with results, that has an impact on our lives.

"It’s not just your professional life, but your personal life as well. It’s a big part of our lives. If we’re happy with the way we’re playing and the results we’re getting, then you can feel that happiness all around the Club."