Confidence Is High Ahead Of FA Cup Clash, Says Tielemans

First Team
19 Mar 2021
2 Minutes
Youri Tielemans has expressed how the togetherness and quality within the group has enabled Leicester City to recover from adversity and fight on multiple fronts during the 2020/21 campaign.

- Youri Tielemans spoke ahead of Leicester City's Emirates FA Cup meeting with Manchester United
- A place in the semi-finals of the competition is up for grabs at King Power Stadium on Sunday
- The midfielder was pleased with the manner of the Foxes' latest Premier League victory 
- Tielemans also discussed the confidence emitting from within the City camp after back-to-back wins

A 5-0 victory over Sheffield United, matching the Club's biggest home win in the Premier League, was the perfect way to temporarily sign off from top flight matters, ahead of meeting Manchester United in the Emirates FA Cup on Sunday (5pm GMT kick-off).

The Belgian was impressed with how the team performed in last weekend's fixture at King Power Stadium and revealed that confidence is high heading into the showdown against the Red Devils.

He told LCFC TV: "It's been good (in training this week), I think when you win and especially in that manner, you are always more positive towards the next game and a bit more confident.

Once we got through, we've been efficient as well in our chances, we've scored a few goals, which is good for us and for the confidence.

Youri Tielemans LCFC TV

"But we know that there is a tough game coming up, so we are ready, we are focused and we are working hard.

"It was really good (against Sheffield United), it was really nice to watch. I think we had to be patient in the first half and the first minutes to create chances and to open them up.

"But once we got through, we've been efficient as well in our chances, we've scored a few goals, which is good for us and for the confidence."

The creative midfielder played a key role in the victory over the Blades, sliding the ball through for Jamie Vardy to strike towards goal before Ethan Ampadu's own goal, after his 'no-look' pass set up Kelechi Iheanacho against Brighton & Hove Albion a week prior.

Tielemans believes that their latest win demonstrates just how much quality there is in Leicester's ranks, with several players stepping up, none more so than Nigerian forward Iheanacho, who scored three of the five goals on Filbert Way that afternoon.

"Especially for Kelechi to score a hat-trick in the Premier League is really nice," the 23-year-old enthused. "He's been working really hard lately and he's been rewarded for his hard work.

"It was okay," Tielemans joked, referencing his Brighton assist. "I try to get into places on the pitch where I can make the pass and be decisive for the team, so once I see it, I try to put it in.

"Sometimes it goes in and sometimes it's not successful, but lately I've been really successful and I'm happy for that.

"To be fair, I didn't realise [how good it was]. It's really by watching the video afterwards and from people sending you the video as well. That's when you realise that you've made a really good pass.

"It was such an important moment to equalise and then to grab the win there, which is very difficult to do, so it was really nice and very satisfactory."