Okazaki highlights Champions League after mixed Leicester year

There was little surprise that Leicester City forward Shinji Okazaki picked the Champions League campaign as his season highlight as a dramatic year for the Foxes drew to a close.

It’s been an up and down season for the Foxes who saw manager Claudio Ranieri sacked just months after leading the side to a miraculous Premier League title.

The trophy gave Leicester City a seeded position in the Champions League draw and they made full use of that by qualifying from their group in top spot.

But with City hovering around the relegation zone in the league, Ranieri was sacked after the first leg of their last 16 tie against Sevilla, which Leicester won to reach the quarter-finals.

(Photo credit: PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

The Foxes were eventually knocked out by Atletico Madrid and the Japanese striker feels the squad had been through the mill during a topsy-turvy season.

“The Champions League was our dream and we got through to the last eight which is special. This is Leicester’s football. Everyone saw this game in the Champions League,” he said.

“We are tired now because, three months ago, we were struggling so the atmosphere wasn’t good.  We stayed together and it was a good end to the season.”