Christian Fuchs had just witnessed the most incredible outcome to a Premier League season ever. He was with all of his Leicester City team-mates at Jamie Vardy's house and video of their celebrations following their unlikely title win had just gone viral.
And with the cameras off, how, exactly, did the party continue? 'We had a barbecue,' Fuchs tells Sportsmail, laughing.
It is one of the most incredible campaigns ever fought in the English top flight. Leicester, tipped for relegation, 5000-1 shots to take the crown, ended up lifting the title after being serenaded by Andrea Bocelli.
Christian Fuchs and his Leicester team-mates celebrate after winning the title in 2016
They were gathered at Jamie Vardy's house and marked the occasion by having a barbecue
Eden Hazard celebrates after scoring the equaliser that secured Leicester the crown
That would not have been possible without an event-filled night in May. Tottenham had to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to keep the title race alive. They went two ahead but the Blues scored one. Heads went, a battle began, and eventually Eden Hazard popped the ball into the top corner to level the scores.
'I just wanted to kiss him,' Fuchs says. 'We were such a team together, watching the game. Everyone was hoping that this would be the final game and we would celebrate being Premier League champions.
'But let's say it was the toughest 90 minutes I've ever played.
'I was too nervous, I had too much tension. I wanted it to happen but with Tottenham being 2-0 up, it was crazy. It was insane.' For Fuchs, the moment was heightened by his own expectations. Only when that net rippled did he really think he could be finishing his first season in England with a title winners' medal.
Leicester were 5000-1 shots to win the Premier League but ended up top of the table in May
Fuchs gives significant credit to manager Claudio Ranieri for how he kept the team grounded
'It was like we were simply focused on the next game. Claudio Ranieri kept our expectations very low. He did very well in that, all credit to him. We didn't dream about anything.
'"Okay let's do a next step, let's do a next step, okay we're here, let's do the next step"'. That made me personally only believe we'd win the title when we won the title, when the video went viral, when we were at Jamie Vardy's house and the final whistle went.
'Even that evening before the game it was never on my mind. We wanted to win the title but would we really make it?' Ranieri was the unlikely hook to the dream season. He had come in at a low professional ebb, with Gary Lineker questioning the appointment. The Italian eventually rode out of town as a hero in Leicester comparable to Richard III.
Fuchs had arrived days before Nigel Pearson was dismissed and Ranieri replaced him. He took a while to work his way into the team, amid an unbeaten six game start to the season.
Fuchs holding the Premier League trophy with a number of his team-mates in May 2016
A good start, but the test was still tough. There were memorable moments - Vardy's record breaking run of goals, the victory over Chelsea at the King Power that saw Jose Mourinho dismissed and the win against Manchester City at the Etihad.
Most outside observers saw that as a real marker in Leicester's title campaign, the day they announced themselves as likely title winners. But not Fuchs.
'Of course we were happy,' admits Fuchs when asked about the 3-1 win at City. 'There was still a long time to go until the end of the season. We kept our expectations very low. We were happy about the win, but that's all'.
The Austrian, who has invested in and will help run the UK Freestyle Football Championships at York Hall later this month, is now part of a Leicester side that provided three of Gareth Southgate's squad members against Switzerland on Tuesday.
He insisted the players did not get over excited after their win against Manchester City
He is not surprised to see Ben Chilwell, his left-back colleague at Leicester, capped by England
The Austrian believes there is cause for optimism among Leicester fans going forward
Youngsters Ben Chilwell, who made his debut, and Demarai Gray were bumped up from the Under 21s. Harry Maguire is now an established part of the side.
And Fuchs believes there's a bright future ahead: 'It's a credit to Leicester to always have talent that are making the international team.
'I'm not surprised. They're doing a good job, they're playing in the Premier League. When you keep working hard, this is the result.
'We're doing well keeping all of these talents, also with the contract extension of Harry Maguire. They are building a new training facility too. A top 10 placement is realistic, but the Premier League is very competitive.'
Competitive or not, Fuchs knows by now that it's always worth keeping a barbecue around.
The UK Freestyle Football Championships hosted by 5 x winner Andrew Henderson in association with #NoFuchsGiven and Joe.co.uk take place at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London on September 23rd. For tickets visit official partner www.nofuchsgiven.com
FIVE-TIME UK FREESTYLE CHAMPION ANDREW HENDERSON ON FUCHS' HELP
'The fact he's playing a major role just shows that its a great thing to be a part of.
'Christian has academies for kids getting into the sport. He has that in loads of different places and we're both excited to get kids into freestyle.
'It helps give them confidence i met so many guys who didn't quite make it as a footballer who started doing freestyle. Their confidence was so low but when they learned a bit, did a trick, got that feedback you know you're making progression and it gives you more confidence.
'It's not just people doing tricks with the ball, it's grown the interest in the sport'.
Andrew Henderson (left), five-time freestyle football champion, and Fuchs
Link article
https://hienalouca.com/2018/09/12/christian-fuchs-on-leicesters-title-win-in-2015-16-and-the-celebrations-at-vardys/
Main photo article Christian Fuchs had just witnessed the most incredible outcome to a Premier League season ever. He was with all of his Leicester City team-mates at Jamie Vardy’s house and video of their celebrations following their unlikely title win had just gone viral.
And with the cameras off, how, ...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Sport HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1/2018/09/12/18/4266186-6160633-image-a-1_1536772611627.jpg
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