Jimmy Lad
Well-Known Member
Taken from Leics Mercury section.....
Nigel Pearson is happy with the pressure of trying to deliver successive promotions for Leicester City.
The manager knows the fans are expecting that and he said: "I embrace the challenge."
City, who are in Carling Cup action at Macclesfield tonight (7.45), crept in under the radar in the build-up to the weekend launch of the Championship season.
All the focus was on Newcastle, Middlesbrough and West Brom, the three sides relegated from the Premier League.
However, City's impressive fightback to beat Swansea 2-1 on Saturday immediately lifted the hope among supporters of another successful season.
Pearson said: "The punters went home happy on Saturday, but I'm sure they will expect us to have a good season – and I do as well."
Pearson's team smashed a handful of club records on their way to the League One crown last season, and the impressive nature of the win against the Swans will heighten hopes of a return to the Premier League.
Pearson said: "There is no point in playing it down. Managers are always under pressure to win games, but that's what it is about and makes it the game it is."
Pearson welcomed the opening-day win, but he said it was too early to assess the impact it will have on City's clutch of three games in six days, starting at Macclesfield tonight and continuing with tough league trips to Ipswich on Saturday and Sheffield United next Tuesday.
The City boss is targeting a play-off spot for his side but said: "We've got to try to win every game. We can't do it, but we've got to try. If you set your standards lower, then you will trip up.
"I'm sure we expect big things from ourselves in a very competitive league.
"If you look at the sides in the division, there have to be a dozen sides who fancy being in the promotion shake-up because of the stature of these clubs and their history.
"There are a lot of very good teams with some very good players.
"All the fans of these clubs will be thinking the same thing, so why not embrace the challenge and try to achieve some success.
"We were one of the big sides in League One and we were able to get out at the first attempt, but the expectations are there and you have to manage them.
"I'm sure teams like Newcastle, West Brom and Peterborough will have a similar scenario to deal with."
Think Middlesboro' might have something to say about that... Another quality piece of reporting!
Nigel Pearson is happy with the pressure of trying to deliver successive promotions for Leicester City.
The manager knows the fans are expecting that and he said: "I embrace the challenge."
City, who are in Carling Cup action at Macclesfield tonight (7.45), crept in under the radar in the build-up to the weekend launch of the Championship season.
All the focus was on Newcastle, Middlesbrough and West Brom, the three sides relegated from the Premier League.
However, City's impressive fightback to beat Swansea 2-1 on Saturday immediately lifted the hope among supporters of another successful season.
Pearson said: "The punters went home happy on Saturday, but I'm sure they will expect us to have a good season – and I do as well."
Pearson's team smashed a handful of club records on their way to the League One crown last season, and the impressive nature of the win against the Swans will heighten hopes of a return to the Premier League.
Pearson said: "There is no point in playing it down. Managers are always under pressure to win games, but that's what it is about and makes it the game it is."
Pearson welcomed the opening-day win, but he said it was too early to assess the impact it will have on City's clutch of three games in six days, starting at Macclesfield tonight and continuing with tough league trips to Ipswich on Saturday and Sheffield United next Tuesday.
The City boss is targeting a play-off spot for his side but said: "We've got to try to win every game. We can't do it, but we've got to try. If you set your standards lower, then you will trip up.
"I'm sure we expect big things from ourselves in a very competitive league.
"If you look at the sides in the division, there have to be a dozen sides who fancy being in the promotion shake-up because of the stature of these clubs and their history.
"There are a lot of very good teams with some very good players.
"All the fans of these clubs will be thinking the same thing, so why not embrace the challenge and try to achieve some success.
"We were one of the big sides in League One and we were able to get out at the first attempt, but the expectations are there and you have to manage them.
"I'm sure teams like Newcastle, West Brom and Peterborough will have a similar scenario to deal with."
Think Middlesboro' might have something to say about that... Another quality piece of reporting!
