Christian Fuchs admits Leicester's title winners now face a battle to make the team

Nick Mashiter 17:07 31/08/2018
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  • Leicester defender Christian Fuchs admits the club’s title winners now face a battle to make the team.

    The former Austria international knows the squad remains in transition, two years after their famous Premier League triumph.

    Only four championship winners started the 2-1 win at Southampton – although Jamie Vardy was suspended – and it is likely to be the same case when the Foxes host Liverpool on Saturday.

    Fuchs’ only appearance this season came in Tuesday’s 4-0 League Cup win over Fleetwood, where he scored a spectacular opener, and he knows the class of 2016 cannot simply trade on past glories.

    He said: “No, but we never did. The win is already two and half years ago now. That is just normal in football, you try to always take the next step and evolve the team to build something new.

    “Every manager has his own ideas. Back then it was Claudio (Ranieri) and since then we have had two other managers. There is always a change and it is just normal, we all live with that, it is nothing new for me.

    James Maddison has joined the Foxes this summer as the old guard continue to be phased out.

    James Maddison has joined the Foxes this summer as the old guard continue to be phased out.

    “Of course I want to play. Everyone in the squad wants to. If you are not playing then obviously you are not overly happy.

    “Whenever the gaffer needs me I am here and the performance against Fleetwood shows I am always here. I feel great. I feel I am still in my prime and feel better than ever.”

    Fuchs, who joined from Schalke in 2015, will leave to join his family in New York next summer when his contract expires as the league champions steadily leave the King Power Stadium.

    Riyad Mahrez left for Manchester City for £60million this summer while Robert Huth was released and Leonardo Ulloa was allowed to join Pachuca in Mexico.

    N’Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater joined Chelsea in 2016 and 2017 respectively while Danny Simpson and Andy King are expected to go in due course.

    Boss Claude Puel added £24m man James Maddison to the squad in the summer, along with Ricardo Pereira, Rachid Ghezzal, Danny Ward and Caglar Soyuncu.

    And Fuchs feels the strength in depth at Leicester has grown.

    The 32-year-old said: “I think we can line up two squads. I think the squad is wide and gives a lot of quality. The game against Fleetwood showed if there is an injury – I hope no one will get injured – the next man is there to fill the role.”

    Vardy serves the final game of his ban against Liverpool while Matty James (Achilles) remains out.

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