KASPER SCHMEICHEL admitted he was pinching himself after watching his Leicester team-mates clinch a spot in the Champions League knockout stages.
The Foxes secured top spot in Group G with a game to spare after defeating Club Brugge 2-1 at home on Tuesday.
Shinji Okazki and Riyad Mahrez’s first half strikes were enough to seal qualification for Claudio Ranieri’s Premier League champions at the King Power Stadium.
Schmeichel, who missed the clash through injury, admitted the feat was beyond his wildest dreams when he arrived at the then Championship outfit in 2011.
“It’s an unbelievable achievement for the club and for the fans,” he told BT Sport.
“It’s something that you can only dream of.
“I signed here five years ago and we were playing in the Championship.
“To be sitting here today and being in the last-16 of the Champions League is a dream come true.”
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Boss Claudio Ranieri added: “It will be another fairytale, win or lose.”
Leicester are guaranteed top spot — even before the trip to Porto — which means they will face a side that finishes as a group runner-up.
Ranieri’s team became the first Champions League debutants to win their group since Malaga in 2012-13 after Porto’s draw in Copenhagen.
He added: “It’s unbelievable. Top of the group. I am very happy and very proud of my players, very happy for the chairman and the fans.
“It’s another journey, we are through to the knockout stage — unbelievable!”
Okazaki’s super first-half strike and a Riyad Mahrez penalty gave Leicester a two-goal half-time lead.
But they were made to sweat by Jose Izquierdo’s strike for the Belgians — the first goal they have conceded in Group G.
Ranieri warned: “Now our minds must go to the Premier League. We have to get back to reality and realise we are very close to relegation.
“I want to push my players to think about the Premier League now our job here is done.
“We must play at the same level as we do in the Champions League.”
Skipper Wes Morgan: “It’s more than we could have imagined — Leicester, Champions League newcomers, top of the group. It’s a great achievement.”
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