Leicester captain Matt Oakley has admitted that the team’s trip to Thailand has been an overwhelming experience.
The City skipper admits that security has been tight since the squad arrived in the early hours of Wednesday morning, but has hailed the trip as ‘incredible’.
“We have experienced police escorts everywhere we’ve travelled and the security is like something Jack Bauer would be involved in,” he said.
“It has been incredible. I suppose my enduring image of this tour so far was the two-hour bus journey from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya, where we have been staying.
“We travelled through some very poor and deprived areas, almost like shanty towns. It was a really humbling experience, which reminded us all of how fortunate we are to be professional footballers.
“We were also visited by the Mayor of Pattaya and a flock of locals who came along to watch training and support us. Such is the wealth of feeling and interest from the Thai people, we really do feel like we have been welcomed to a second home.”
While the trip has come under criticism from many sections of the City support, midfielder Oakley insists that the team’s visit to Thailand has acted as a welcome distraction from matters on the pitch.
“I genuinely feel that this tour has come at just the right time.
“I know that some people may have questioned coming to Thailand mid-season, but the change of environment and subsequent unity that we are developing will allow us to build on the Scunthorpe result as we prepare to face the Thai national team and then Hull City.”
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