Leicester City had a magical domestic season last time around in the Premier League. However, are they one of those one-season wonders that we normally come across? If this question is posed to the Foxes manager Claudio Ranieri, surely he would answer in negative.
A fresh season calls for a fresh beginning. Leicester are playing the Europe's premier club football competition -- the UEFA Champions League -- for the first time in their history and this is a momentous occasion. Ranieri's side take on Club Brugge in their first group game of the competition on Wednesday evening at the Jan Breydelstadion Stadium in Bruges, Belgium.
Leicester didn't have a bright start at all to their Premier League 2016-17 season as they remain 16th in the league table with two defeats, one win and a draw each from four games. The winning momentum has not been picked up, but Ranieri knows it is still very early in the season.
"We want to show our best [in the Champions League], our desire is to win. We have to fight, but with a lot of respect for everybody," said the Italian coach ahead of their historic game. "Brugge are a good team, the best in Belgium. They are used to playing in Europe. They have experience and that means something.
"It's important to play in Europe beyond December: that's our goal. We want to be in the knockout stage. Winning the Champions League is impossible. But Leicester have shown before that the impossible is possible," Ranieri added.
Besides Jeffrey Schlupp, who has a muscle strain, Leicester have a relatively fit squad for the game. Danny Simpson may be doubtful to appear in the game but Leicester record signing Islam Slimani could be in contention for his debut.
Brugge, meanwhile, want to emulate what Leicester achieved last season. "What Leicester did last season is a great story, and they proved one thing – with the right mindset, you can go a long way. We want to get back in the the form we were in when we won the [Belgian Pro League] title last season," said Brugge coach Michel Preud'homme.
Leicester are in Group G, which includes Copenhagen and 2004 winners Porto.
Schedule
Club Brugge vs Leicester City is scheduled to kick off at 12:15 a.m. IST [Thursday] (7:45 p.m. BST, 2:45 p.m. EST) on Sept. 14.
How to watch
India: TV: Ten 1. Live streaming: ten sports live.
UK: TV: BT Sport 2. Live streaming: BT Sport live.
USA: TV: None. Live streaming: Fox Sports Go.
Belgium: TV: Club RTL.
