Peter Schmeichel: Kasper’s title better than my own

He may have gone through it all on the field, but Peter Schmeichel admits watching son Kasper’s run-in to the Premier League title last season was far more stressful than anything he experienced as a player.

The 52-year-old Manchester United legend already has numerous Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League winners medals on his mantle, but as his son bid to start his collection last term, he admits feeling more nervous than ever before.

And with the 29-year-old Leicester City stopper ultimately successful in claiming an unlikely title victory, Peter insists that meant more to him than all the trophies he lifted himself.

“Even when you’ve achieved things like winning the Premier League, they don’t occupy your mind as much as when it happens to someone like your son,” he said.

“That’s because you can’t do anything about it yourself. The whole run-in was something I really enjoyed as a footballer – everyone was coming after you and it was my best time as a footballer.

(Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)

“But when it’s your son and you can’t do anything about it, I was nervous and on edge all the time.

“It means so much; it’s much better for me that he’s won it, than I won it. I know that sounds silly but it’s how I feel.”

Kasper was one of the key elements of the Foxes’ remarkable Premier League success last season, keeping 15 clean sheets in total.

But despite the inevitable comparisons to his old man, Peter is adamant his son is a totally different player between the posts than he was.

He said: “Your toolbox has to be a lot bigger now as a goalkeeper. You still have to do all the goalkeeping, but now you have to be a footballer as well.

“Kasper is very different in his approach than I was. The game has evolved too, and you get more and more inspiration from foreign players and coaches.

“My preparation was very British – I never stayed in a hotel before a game in England – and you diet was very different too. Everything has changed.”