Next Gen Cup: Bengaluru FC Lose To Leicester City But Win Hearts

Former Premier League champions Leicester City FC's academy team almost had their hearts in their mouth when the reserve team of Bengaluru FC, former Indian Super League champions themselves, pumped in three goals in seven minutes in their Next Generation Cup, 2022 fixture in Leicester on Wednesday. Leicester City, who had already raced to a six-goal lead won the tie 6-3 but not without Bengaluru FC earning praise from the opponents and Premier League delegates who were witnessing the action from the stands.

Leon McSweeney, Leicester City FC's academy coach admitted the young Foxes were put under immense pressure from the Indian team.

"Bengaluru made life very tough for us with their energy and intensity. It caused a lot of problems, particularly in the second half. I think they can be very proud of what they showed. And certainly, if we didn't have the cushion, we would have been a lot more nervous at the end," said McSweeney.

Bengaluru FC's Naushad Moosa singled out the biggest positive from the match - invaluable experience.

"After the game, I could hear the boys saying we could have won the game. So, this is what they need to understand," he said.

Moosa explained how the emerging Bengaluru players overcame their apprehensions of facing a Premier League side gradually into the game, turning the 90 minutes on the pitch into a 'great learning moment'.

"I felt that they had that fear of playing against Leicester. So, you could see, everyone was down. When they were going for the tackle, they were not giving their hundred percent. In the second half, the team was totally different in the way we were going at them. So, this is what they will have to learn, and this is a very good learning moment," Moosa said.

McSweeney, a