Leicester City star Ricardo Pereira is on the front page of Portuguese newspaper O Jogo on Friday.
Unsurprisingly, most of the interview was about the right-back’s former club Porto and his form with the national team, with him claiming it’s possible to win the Euros once again in 2020.
But his good season with the Foxes has also been mentioned, with him claiming the initial plan wasn’t to be so high in the Premier League table.
“At the beginning of the season, the goal was to enter the top six, but fortunately we are doing better than had been proposed,” Ricardo Pereira told O Jogo. “However, there’s more than half of the league to go and the hardest is yet to come.”
Regarding the hope of getting a Premier League title, Ricardo Pereira says Leicester City have their feet on the ground.
“Despite the second place, the truth is that we are 10 points from the first. In addition, the main candidates are Manchester City and Liverpool. We have to be focused on our work, trying to win game by game. As the season goes on, we’ll see how far we can go.
“Of course, if we stay second, and with the number of good teams in England, it will be a positive season.”
Ricardo Pereira has also been asked to evaluate his season so far, and he claims to be happy with it: “I don’t say it’s been exceptional, because there are always things to improve, but it’s been very good.”
But he claims there’s something that has been bothering him: “Especially in terms of finishing plays, because I often get up front, but I have to translate that into assists or goals. I can still improve the crosses. Tactically I can also improve one aspect or another and anticipate the moves better.
“I can improve this average of two goals per season, because I have already scored two and we aren’t even halfway into the season. But I’m interested in helping the team. First I have to defend, but if I have the opportunity up front, the better.”
The right-back was also asked about their campaign in the League Cup. And when quizzed if he’d rather face Manchester City or Manchester United in the final, he says he has no preference.
“In the League Cup we are one step from the final. We will face a good team, like Aston Villa, and we have a great opportunity to get to Wembley. Then, in a final, anything can happen. We are making a good journey and we only have one step left. I believe we can win the League Cup.”
“In a final, there is no question of whether it’s an advantage to play against this or that one. It’s just one game. Manchester City have been stronger, but in a final anything can happen and we have to focus on ourselves. Regardless of the opponent’s name, we will try to win.”
