Leicester City urged to avoid years of hurt as European run inspired by canteen meeting

Jonny Evans has urged his Leicester City team-mates to take their chance and win the Europa Conference League, avoiding the hurt that can last for years.

One of the experienced heads in the City squad, 34-year-old Evans has realised over his career that the pain of missing out on silverware with a late exit in competitions can get worse as time progresses. But with City just two wins from lifting the trophy, starting against Roma on Thursday night, Evans believes the squad is psychologically in a good place after the FA Cup triumph 12 months ago.

Evans said: “The one thing you do learn is that when the moment’s gone and you don’t get through, those moments are gone forever. That’s one thing that I can remember being knocked out of a few cup competitions and it hurt at the time but when you look back a couple of years later it hurt a bit more.

“Time is ticking by in your career and you’re thinking they were opportunities for us to get to finals and to get further in competitions to win silverware. I think winning the FA Cup last year was such a big thing for us psychologically.

"Sometimes you’re not as far away as you think. Sometimes when you’re in the quarter final or semi you think you’re still so far away from winning a trophy but really you’re not, you’re so close. They’re moments that you need to try and take if you can. I think that’s probably one thing I’ve learnt.”

City have already seen off two excellent sides in Rennes and PSV Eindhoven, showing they have taken the competition seriously, even if it’s the inaugural year of the Conference League and its reputation has not yet been established. The club had hoped to be competing for glory in the Europa League, but after they were demoted to the Conference