Shakespeare: We’re Still Improving

- The Leicester City squad’s fitness levels are continuing to rise, says manager Craig Shakespeare
- The Foxes face Liverpool in the Premier League Asia Trophy Final on Saturday (1.30pm kick-off BST)
-  Shakespeare knows his side are in for another high-quality match against the Reds

The 2015/16 Premier League champions will be hoping to win the competition at the first time of asking when they take to the Hong Kong Stadium pitch for the second time in four days.

Fitness levels have vastly improved since Shakespeare’s men returned to the Club in early July and for the City boss, that is one of the biggest benefits of contesting this tournament. 

“I am expecting another good quality game,” Shakespeare told the media. “I think you saw against West Brom it was very close and very open. It is a final but you have to remember it is pre-season still.

“I don’t know how many games Liverpool have had but that was only our second game, so we are still moving towards fitness levels and improving fitness levels.

“But when you put a competition in front of players natural instinct will tell you they want to win. That is the competitive edge. I would have it no different and I am sure the players will have it no different.”

Hong Kong Stadium will no doubt be packed out for the final on Saturday and Shakespeare expressed his delight at the welcome his side have been shown since arriving on Monday. 

He added: “We knew that the interest in Asia and Hong Kong in particular was at the forefront of Premier League football.

“From the moment we landed, although it was very early in the morning, you could see the welcome we got, then coming to the hotel and the friendliness of everyone.

“We went for a walk the next morning in a downpour but there were still autograph hunters and people asking for photographs. It was good to see but also good that our players mixed in.”