Leicester no small team, say ECL opponents
Club Brugge manager Michel Preud'homme has told the team's fans not to disrespect Leicester as underwhelmed supporters plan to stay away.
The Belgian champions are only expecting around 20,000 in the 29,000-capacity Jan Breydel Stadion when they host the Foxes in the Champions League on Wednesday.
It is Leicester's debut in the competition after last season's stunning Premier League title triumph, with Porto and Copenhagen completing Group G.
A poor start, the timing of the game and the fact Brugge have a fan-base spread across the country are all reasons for the poor attendance and Preud'homme warned those coming they cannot underestimate the Foxes.
"Maybe they have the wrong perception of the quality of the opponent that we get at home," he said, ahead of Brugge's first Champions League group game for a decade.
"The Belgium press says it's not a big team but I say they are. They are a big team because they became champions.
"If we get Roma, everyone will say 'Roma, we want to see it' but they might eliminate us.
"If Arsenal are here everyone will want to see Arsenal but Leicester won against Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea and so on.
"At this moment it means this team are better than the others.
"Maybe tomorrow people are expecting less from us because on paper they are better."
Leicester lost 4-1 at Liverpool on Saturday while Brugge slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Waasland-Beveren on Friday, their third loss in their opening six games which leaves Preud'homme's side 10th in the Jupiler Pro League.
They won a 14th title last season, their first for nine years, and Preud'homme admits the clubs' starts this year are similar, with Leicester having lost two of their four league matches.
