This is Leicestershire --
One Leicester City player is looking forward to today's visit of big-spending Monaco more than most.
Frenchmen Anthony Knockaert is excited about the possibility of facing the team that has been the talk of his home country this summer.
The talented young wide-man believes the match this afternoon (4.15) will be a "fantastic occasion" and is one that City can – and will – win.
Monaco have invested heavily in their squad this summer in a bid to claim the French title this season.
More than £200 million has been spent on recruiting the likes of Radamel Falcao, Hulk, James Rodriguez, Ricardo Carvalho, Jeremy Toulalan, Eric Abidal and Joao Moutinho.
They have a squad packed with talent, but Knockaert believes City can claim a famous scalp this afternoon.
"Everybody in France has been surprised by Monaco; because they were champions of Ligue 2 last year and have gone on to buy so many good players, like Falcao and Abidal," he said.
"It should be a very good game and it's wonderful for us ahead of the first game of the season against Middlesbrough.
"It's going to be a great experience to play against players like that and I think that all of us at Leicester are looking forward to playing against this Monaco team.
"Yes, I have spoken to them (friends at Monaco) and I have told them that we will beat them.
"It should be a really good game, because they have so many good players now and that should be a great experience for us.
"With one week to go until the league starts, it's a great time to play them."
Knockaert believes French domestic football is rising fast and soon French clubs will compete consistently with Europe's very best.
"I think it's (attention and investment in clubs) very good for French football," said Knockaert, who joined City from Ligue 2 side Guangamp a year ago.
"To have two great players like Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva at Paris Saint-Germain and some great players heading to Monaco, it's great for French football.
"There are now players around the world wanting to play the game in France and I think that the French league will be very exciting next season."
The game will provide a very different test for City from the likes of those teams faced so far – Leamington Spa, Port Vale and York.
And while manager Nigel Pearson said it would be a good work-out to take on players of such technical excellence, he said the game was no more important in their pre-season preparations than those previous games .
"In all honesty, I am of the opinion that sometimes you get as much out of a game like York as you do a game like this," he said of today's showpiece, which is being screened live by Sky TV.
"When you play sides from lower divisions, they will try and get amongst you. When you play a side like Monaco, the amount of technicians they have got mean it will be a different challenge for us.
"The players are looking forward to that challenge, but it will depend on how they go about the game. Technically, they are excellent so we will have to be on our mettle."
Pearson said the most important thing was for his side to get another decent work-out as the countdown to the new season continues.
He will assess the squad after this week's two games before deciding on his team for Monaco.
"They have all played a 90 minute slot now, it is a case of managing the last two games before the start of the season."
City travel to face Northampton Town on Tuesday night in their final pre-season fixture. Reported by This is 17 hours ago.
One Leicester City player is looking forward to today's visit of big-spending Monaco more than most.
Frenchmen Anthony Knockaert is excited about the possibility of facing the team that has been the talk of his home country this summer.
The talented young wide-man believes the match this afternoon (4.15) will be a "fantastic occasion" and is one that City can – and will – win.
Monaco have invested heavily in their squad this summer in a bid to claim the French title this season.
More than £200 million has been spent on recruiting the likes of Radamel Falcao, Hulk, James Rodriguez, Ricardo Carvalho, Jeremy Toulalan, Eric Abidal and Joao Moutinho.
They have a squad packed with talent, but Knockaert believes City can claim a famous scalp this afternoon.
"Everybody in France has been surprised by Monaco; because they were champions of Ligue 2 last year and have gone on to buy so many good players, like Falcao and Abidal," he said.
"It should be a very good game and it's wonderful for us ahead of the first game of the season against Middlesbrough.
"It's going to be a great experience to play against players like that and I think that all of us at Leicester are looking forward to playing against this Monaco team.
"Yes, I have spoken to them (friends at Monaco) and I have told them that we will beat them.
"It should be a really good game, because they have so many good players now and that should be a great experience for us.
"With one week to go until the league starts, it's a great time to play them."
Knockaert believes French domestic football is rising fast and soon French clubs will compete consistently with Europe's very best.
"I think it's (attention and investment in clubs) very good for French football," said Knockaert, who joined City from Ligue 2 side Guangamp a year ago.
"To have two great players like Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva at Paris Saint-Germain and some great players heading to Monaco, it's great for French football.
"There are now players around the world wanting to play the game in France and I think that the French league will be very exciting next season."
The game will provide a very different test for City from the likes of those teams faced so far – Leamington Spa, Port Vale and York.
And while manager Nigel Pearson said it would be a good work-out to take on players of such technical excellence, he said the game was no more important in their pre-season preparations than those previous games .
"In all honesty, I am of the opinion that sometimes you get as much out of a game like York as you do a game like this," he said of today's showpiece, which is being screened live by Sky TV.
"When you play sides from lower divisions, they will try and get amongst you. When you play a side like Monaco, the amount of technicians they have got mean it will be a different challenge for us.
"The players are looking forward to that challenge, but it will depend on how they go about the game. Technically, they are excellent so we will have to be on our mettle."
Pearson said the most important thing was for his side to get another decent work-out as the countdown to the new season continues.
He will assess the squad after this week's two games before deciding on his team for Monaco.
"They have all played a 90 minute slot now, it is a case of managing the last two games before the start of the season."
City travel to face Northampton Town on Tuesday night in their final pre-season fixture. Reported by This is 17 hours ago.