Puel: Spirit & Concentration

- Claude Puel wants the Club’s youngsters to seize their opportunity while away with the first team in France
- Several Academy stars will head out to Évian-les-Bains with Leicester City
- Puel has been impressed by the energy flowing through the squad

Puel will return to his native France with the Foxes on Sunday, when they head to Évian-les-Bains for a busy week of pre-season preparation.

The City manager’s target will be to assess his first team squad, but also to keep track of the progress of the Academy youngsters that will travel with the team.

“I think it’s a good feeling with good energy and a good atmosphere,” said Puel. “It was a long break for the players and it was a good opportunity to have a good rest.

“Now, we have to work hard in the training sessions. About this first week, it’s amazing. I like the spirit and the concentration.

“All of the training camps are important, but it’s a good opportunity for some young players, some Academy players to come with us and it will be a good opportunity for us know the experienced players in different training sessions.

“With 12 international players coming back later, step-by-step they will come back with us. It’s a good opportunity for young players to show their quality and perhaps to come for the future with the squad.”

The Club’s international contingent will return to training later this month, with Jamie Vardy and Harry Maguire still away with England following Saturday's triumph over Sweden in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Quarter-Finals.

He added: “It will be difficult to manage all of the international players when they come back because it will be important to find again the good focus and good concentration.

“For the World Cup we know it’s a great competition. It’s always difficult for international players to come back and have the first day and first week with good concentration.

“For some players with England (Jamie Vardy and Harry Maguire), perhaps they will come back just 15 days before the beginning of the season, we will see. But I hope they can play a long time and they can win the World Cup of course!”