Ex-Chelsea's Alan Birchenall
Leicester Mercury
Birch on the Ball: Great for fans to see the other side of SvenBy alan birchenallWe have some defining games coming up, starting today at Queens Park Rangers. I am happier playing a team like QPR, who are leading the Championship, than a team down at the bottom because of the psychological aspect.
The lads will know they have to be spot-on. They are for every game but, when you face a team like QPR, who look like going up automatically, you have to be even more so.
It might suit us because they will look to play football and that might allow us to play too. Over the last few weeks, sides have come out and just got straight into our faces.
But, if we are going to progress as a team and a club, we have to withstand that. It is a learning process.
After QPR, on Tuesday night we have another big one against Norwich at the Walkers Stadium, but it is better to have the pressure of going for promotion than the opposite.
Wherever you are, there is pressure but I prefer where we are now than the pressure we were starting to have at the start of the season.
I am sure it will be a great night on Tuesday, and talking of great nights, we had just that on Tuesday at the Walkers when Sven and Derek Fazackerley were involved in a fans' question and answer session.
Lots of fans wanted to come but, when it was announced it would be on a first-come, first-served basis for season-ticket holders, the 500 tickets went within a blink of an eye.
I have been doing Q&As and sportsman's dinners at the club for 30 years now.
However, I walked into the Great Hall about 90 minutes before the event and it seemed like the room was nearly full then.
It was a free event, which was a great gesture from the club, and I bet the other 13,500 season-ticket holders would have been really pig sick they weren't at the event because, judging by the feedback from the fans, they all thought it was a fantastic night.
We know all about Sven's record and his reputation in the game across the world, but what people told me after the event is that they understand more about what he is like as a person now.
Along with Faz, who also did a great job on the night, Sven gave a PR masterclass.
It was good for the fans to see the other side to his character. I slipped in a few curve balls at him, just to show he has got a great sense of humour as well.
It is a lot more of a cultured sense of humour than the Birch's own slapstick style!
There was a fantastic turn-out, especially considering it was the big game between Chelsea and Manchester United that night, and Sven did mention it.
"Birchy," he said. "You know it is Chelsea and Man Utd this evening?" He loves watching his football.
It was a great insight into him as a person.
Afterwards he was still posing for photographs and signing autographs long after people had gone home.
Sven and Faz both mentioned the unbelievable family atmosphere we have at the club and the fantastic support home and away.
That is why we are a big club and I was happy that Sven and Faz got to see that last Tuesday because it encourages me to see them realise the dedication and passion there is for our club for people to turn out like that.
I just felt sorry for the other 13,500 season-ticket holders and all the others fans who missed out because it was a great night.
The Birch is a patron of Wishes4KIds, Loros and Prost-Aid as well as being an ambassador for Natterjacks.
www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/sport/Birch-Ball-Great-fans-Sven/article-3295976-detail/article.htmlLEICESTER MERCURY
Sven impressed with attitude of City players
By rob tannerSven-Goran Eriksson has sensed a steely determination among his Leicester City troops to get their promotion challenge back on course at Loftus Road.
After going eight games unbeaten, City have picked up just one point from their last two Championship fixtures and will be underdogs this afternoon against league leaders Queens Park Rangers.
However, Eriksson said the players had been even more focused in training than during their winning streak, when they seemed to sweep aside all their opponents.
"We are coming off two results which were so-so, so the heads should be down, but I must say the quality in training has been better than a couple of weeks ago," said the City boss.
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"What that means we will see, but it is fantastic to see, and not just from the 11 but everyone.
"I can guarantee that from the spirit and the intensity in training, everyone still believes 100-per-cent that we are going in the right direction. If they didn't they wouldn't be performing as they have been in training this week."
Among those impressing in training has been defender Aleksandar Tunchev, who is making good progress after his two-year injury nightmare.
Eriksson said the Bulgarian's problematic knees were holding up well to full training, and Tunchev has had two run outs in the reserves.
"Tunchev has been training very well and is getting better and better," said Eriksson.
"He is not ready yet and will not be ready this week or next week. It will probably take rather a long time but it is good to see him on the pitch."
Eriksson just missed out on the Championship manager of the month award yesterday, for the second consecutive month.
QPR manager Neil Warnock was also shortlisted but Swansea City boss Brendan Rodgers won the award.
Andy King was nominated for the player of the month, alongside former City striker Matty Fryatt, but it was Ipswich Town youngster Connor Wickham who won.
www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/sport/Sven-impressed-attitude-City-players/article-3296944-detail/article.html
LEICESTER MERCURY
Sven says City players will cope with pressure of promotion battleSven-Goran Eriksson
By rob tanner
Sven-Goran Eriksson insists Leicester City can handle the pressure of a tense promotion battle.
City have steamed up the table in the last few months but, just as they looked to break into the top six for the first time this season, their momentum has been slowed by defeat at Cardiff City and a draw with Coventry.
Eriksson said it was not a sign of the weight of expectation proving too much, and that City should embrace the pressure of their promotion push.
"In this job, whether you are a player, coach or manager, you must like the pressure," said Eriksson, whose team face a crucial game at Championship leaders Queens Park Rangers today.
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"If you don't have pressure on yourself at the club then it means you are not at the right club. For sure, you are not in a club with good ambitions.
"You have to have ambition, whether it is to win the league, promotion or qualify for the Champions League if you are in the Premier League.
"If you are at a club without a real target then there is no pressure but it is boring. If you lose it doesn't matter, you move on to the next game. No. It is better to have a lot of pressure on everyone."
QPR have showed they can handle the pressure, having led the Championship for most of the season. And Eriksson admits they have proven to be the best side in the division.
He said: "The table does not lie. QPR are not in the Premier League yet but, if you put your last pound on one team going up, you would put it on them.
"They have four or five attacking players who can decide a game by themselves.
"They are a team with a lot of experience, a team with a very solid defence and goalkeeper. They also use two sitting midfielders in front of the back line, who are all experienced.
"I don't expect to create a lot of occasions to score. Normally, you don't do that against a team like QPR, but I expect some opportunities and, hopefully, we can take them.
"It will be a difficult game. We are coming off the back of two so-so results, but we are prepared, and will do everything we can to get a result."
www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/sport/Sven-says-City-players-cope-pressure-promotion-battle/article-3296832-detail/article.html
