Kasper Schmeichel is stress free — because a title race is much more relaxing than a relegation dogfight
Foxes keeper is loving the underdog spirit at the King Power
KASPER SCHMEICHEL says ‘real pressure’ is knowing other people’s jobs depend on whether you stay up or go down.
Leicester’s No 1 claims sitting seven points clear at the Premier League summit is stress free compared to their troubles a year ago.
Back then, the Foxes were in danger of going down after one season back in the top flight.
With the drop comes inevitable cost-cutting in preparation for the Championship.
But after surviving the dark days, Schmeichel says this season is pure enjoyment.
He said: “The pressure was last season when your backs are to the wall and you’re fighting for your lives. Relegation means everything to a club, a city, a whole community.
“People lose their jobs. That would have been catastrophic for us. That wasREAL pressure.
“This is just great. We’re enjoying this.
“But it really is just the whole mentality of taking one game as it comes.”
It has been some turnaround. Twelve months ago this week Leicester were bottom with just six weeks of the season left.
But under Nigel Pearson they mounted a ‘Great Escape’.
And the momentum has continued under boss Claudio Ranieri this season.
Now Leicester have inched closer to an extraordinary title triumph with five 1-0 wins in six games to keep Spurs at bay.
Despite intense celebrations after Sunday’s win over Southampton, Schmeichel says they are not thinking of the title.
He added: “Maybe it’s difficult for others not to think about the title, but not for us.
“Granted it was in another league but we’ve done this in the Championship.
“A lot of us were there and we know what it’s like. It is a different level this time but it’s the same type of thing.
“If we start looking ahead, we’re not going to put our full focus on Sunderland on Sunday, which we need to do.”
Schmeichel, who has 10 clean sheets in 14 games, has no problems with Leicester winning 1-0 between now and the end of the season.
He added: “We take that all day long. Every win is big. It’s no different for us.
“We defend as a team, we’re tough to break down. They’re an absolute privilege to play behind, those boys.
“They throw their bodies in the way of everything and give us the best opportunity to go and win games.
“Building a good foundation with clean sheets is a great start. My defence was magnificent against Southampton.”