The squad travelled to Lens earlier on Friday to prepare for a final friendly fixture against French outfit RC Lens at Stade Félix Bollaert-Delélis this Saturday afternoon (4pm BST kick-off).
De Cordova-Reid, a summer signing from Fulham, outlined why the meeting with the Ligue 1 side, who finished seventh last season, is a good challenge at this stage of their schedule, just over a week away from the start of the 2024/25 campaign.
“I think everyone is looking forward to it,” the 31-year-old commented. “It means that the Premier League is coming closer. We obviously want to put a good performance in and put the things into practice that we’ve been working on and give a good showing.
“It’ll be nice to win but the performances are key and we’ll work on what we need to. We understand it’s a tough opposition and we’ve had different games. This is another one which will bring a different dynamic to the game and bring out something different within the team.
“We have to find solutions to play well and win the game and get ready for the game against Tottenham on Monday.”
The Jamaica international also discussed the benefits of the trips away over the summer, including to Germany, where the Foxes took on Augsburg and came together as a group, allowing De Cordova-Reid to build relationships with his new team-mates and gain a better understanding of the tactical ideas and concepts being set by Steve Cooper and his coaching staff.
The attacker explained: “In Germany it was good to be with the players. With me being a new player as well, I was getting to know everyone and did my initiation song. The lads have been great with me. I’ve stepped in and I feel like I’ve known them forever.
“That’s a credit to them welcoming me like that. It seems like a good group of lads and players who are ready to work for each other and do the most to get three points.
“But working on certain things and having the game out there, we didn’t win, but we learnt a lot and we have to put it into practice for the Lens game. We can put into practice in games what the Manager wants.
“Training is obviously quite different so when it comes across on a matchday, you can all see it and it gives you that belief that what you are doing is right and trust the process.”
De Cordova-Reid could potentially make his City debut in front of the Blue Army – in the Premier League opener against Tottenham Hotspur on Monday 19 August – with the start of the new season an exciting prospect for all involved.
“It’s going to be a big game,” he added. “Everyone’s excited for the first game. We obviously understand that it’s a big squad and there will be players that want to be starting, players who won’t be starting, but it’s a marathon not a sprint.
“Everyone is going to be needed throughout the season and we’ve got to stick together. It would be nice [to play]. I want to get out there and show them (the supporters) what I can do, have an enjoyable game, get three points and send everyone home happy.”
