JONNY EVANS reckons lifting a trophy with Leicester would be up there with anything he achieved at Manchester United.
At the age of 21, Evans had already won world, European and English titles with the Red Devils and admits he probably took silverware ‘for granted’.
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Ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton, the Northern Ireland star, now 33, said: “Winning something with Leicester is definitely a more difficult thing to do.
“That’s not putting any slight on Manchester United’s achievements. You see now how difficult it has been for them to win the league and to win as many trophies as under Sir Alex Ferguson.
“The resources and everything they’ve got, they’re a club set up to be a winning machine. But it’s something Leicester are trying to do.
“Maybe winning something with Leicester would be an achievement up there with one of the best for me, on a personal level.”
Leicester still have in their dressing room a few survivors from their 2016 Premier League triumph — like Jamie Vardy, Kasper Schmeichel and Marc Albrighton.
Winning something with Leicester is definitely a more difficult thing to do.”
Jonny Evans
But most of Brendan Rodgers’ young side are chasing a first pot.
Evans said: “Sometimes the boys will remind me here and give me a bit of banter about winning certain trophies.
“I probably didn’t realise it at the start, the first six months or a year, but I do feel like they look up to me a lot.
“I’ve tried to take confidence from that and tried to lead by example.
“Growing up at United you were surrounded by people who had won quadruple the number of trophies you had won, so you kind of always felt insignificant.”
Former United boss Louis van Gaal sold Belfast-born defender Evans to West Brom in 2015.
But the defender’s form for the Baggies, and then in his three seasons so far at Leicester, suggests it was a mistake.
He is playing as well as ever and also has unfinished business with the FA Cup in particular.
Evans’ last silverware came in 2013, the last of three Prem titles he won at Old Trafford.
He also lifted two League Cups and picked up a medal for playing a couple of group games as Ferguson’s side won the 2008 Champions League.
With Southampton now standing in their way, Evans said: “I’ve never reached an FA Cup final. It’s eaten away at me.
“I’ve played a few Community Shields and League Cup finals at Wembley but an FA Cup final would be nice.
I’ve never reached an FA Cup final. It’s eaten away at me.”
Jonny Evans
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“It’s a really historic trophy. To win the FA Cup is something special.
“I’ve been fortunate to win League Cup finals but the FA Cup would definitely top that.”
Leicester have been FA Cup runners-up in 1949, 1961, 1963 and 1969 — but never won it.
Evans said: “Leicester have lost four finals, I remember the 2000 League Cup win under Martin O’Neill and the Premier League win.
“So it is one for us to correct.
“I think winning any trophy is a big deal. But I probably took it for granted when I was younger.
“Having not won one in a few years now, you appreciate how hard they are to achieve and how much you cherish them as years go on. Hopefully we can put that right.”
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