Why Leicester City are only EPL club not to play abroad in pre-season

Apart from Leicester City, every other Premier League club traveled abroad for friendly matches and tours this pre-season. Why didn’t the Foxes go again?

While other Premier League clubs undertake tours on far away continents in order to ‘raise their profiles’ – or make money, excuse my cynicism – Leicester City stayed behind to conduct old-fashioned off-season preparation. Pre-season, as most other opportunities, is essentially another business opportunity for these top-flight teams.

Thankfully the Foxes have ignored the trend and stayed at home to fully concentrate on fitness, maintenance and fluidity. In fact since 2016’s miraculous, marvelous title triumph, Leicester’s star has risen around the world anyway.

Obvious strong ties to South East Asia are prevalent for the Foxes in particular. That connection began with the Srivaddhanaprabha family taking the East Midlands club’s helm, of course.

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Leicester City pre-season 2019/20

As friendly campaigns go, Leicester have conducted themselves and their performances wonderfully. Winning the four main games and drawing with Rotherham United with a much weakened side.

Although the aforementioned match enabled Kelechi Iheanacho to finally and ultimately complete his return to form, increase confidence and score a brace of goals. He also netted against Cambridge United in the 3-0 win.

Brendan Rodgers certainly appreciated his boss, Top Srivaddhanaprabha, not insisting the squad and staff be sent abroad just before they embark on an important and testing season:

"“…when you’ve been involved in commercial tours, it’s very difficult to get the training in with the heat and all the other activities that go on.“Thankfully, the owners have been brilliant. They’ve given us the opportunity to just concentrate on football.Via: Leicester Mercury"

Rodgers also said he thinks this type of more muted practice will benefit his team for the upcoming season. It is true that the Foxes have seemed sluggish and tired after competing in friendly tours on foreign soil in recent years.

Rodgers also stated the crucial nature of ‘big clubs’ like City contesting the lower level sides during the off-season. The Northern Irishman believes it helps generate ticket sales and funds which help support clubs; along with providing excitement for their fans.