Leicester win was good reply to Premier League title pressure, says Claudio Ranieri
- Published
- comments
Claudio Ranieri congratulates top scorer Jamie Vardy
Claudio Ranieri says his table-topping Leicester City team are enjoying a "magical season" and can handle the pressure of the title run-in.
The Foxes moved seven points clear of Tottenham with six games remaining thanks to a 1-0 win over Southampton.
"I am very calm," said Ranieri. "We believe in what we are doing."
He said "everybody" was waiting to see how they would react to Tottenham's 1-1 draw with Liverpool, adding: "We gave a very good answer."
Analysis: Why are Leicester so hard to beat?
Leicester need 12 points from their final six games to become champions.
Remaining fixtures | ||
|---|---|---|
Leicester (1st) | Tottenham (2nd) | Arsenal (3rd) |
Sunderland (a) (10 April, 13:30 BST) | Man Utd (h) (10 April, 16:00 BST) | West Ham (a) (9 April 12:45 BST) |
West Ham (h) (17 April, 13:30 BST) | Stoke (a) (18 April, 20:00 BST) | Crystal Palace (h) (17 April, 16:00 BST) |
West Brom (h) (21 April, 19:45 BST) | ||
Swansea (h) (24 April, 16:15 BST) | West Brom (h) (25 April, 20;00 BST) | Sunderland (a) (24 April, 14:05 BST) |
Man Utd (a) (1 May, 13:30 BST) | Chelsea (a) (2 May, 20:00 BST) | Norwich (h) (30 April, 17:30 BST) |
Everton (h) (7 May, 15:00 BST)* | Southampton (h) (7 May, 15:00 BST)* | Man City (a) (7 May, 15:00 BST)* |
Chelsea (a) (15 May, 15:00 BST) | Newcastle (a) (15 May, 15:00 BST) | Aston Villa (h) (15 May 15:00 BST) |
Note: Fixtures on 7 May are likely to be moved for live UK television coverage | ||
Ranieri said his squad know they may not get another shot at glory.
Leicester 1-0 Southampton: Claudio Ranieri praises captain Wes Morgan
"We believe it's a magical season and next season won't be the same," said the 64-year-old Italian,
"We try to do our best. Other teams can win 3-0, 4-0. We have to fight to win 1-0. We must be focused in our way."
A long time in football
On this day a year ago, Leicester were bottom of the Premier League and seven points from safety, having lost 4-3 at Tottenham.
Striker Jamie Vardy had scored only once in six months and the Foxes has lost 18 out of 29 league games.
Leicester have played 41 Premier League games since - winning 27, drawing 10 and losing just four to complete a remarkable turnaround in fortune.
A very happy birthday
A sponsor of the club provided free doughnuts for Leicester City fans at the King Power
Leicester owner and chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha travelled from his native Thailand to watch the win over Southampton on the eve of his birthday.
To celebrate his big day and thank Leicester's fans for their support, the club gave away a free doughnut and bottle of beer to every ticket holder.
"We sung 'Happy Birthday' to him in the dressing room before the match and I asked the players to give him a good present, three points," said Ranieri.
Srivaddhanaprabha and his party flew off the King Power Stadium in a helicopter after the final whistle - but not before making sure a box of doughnuts was on board.
Doughnuts are taken aboard helicopter carrying Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha...
...before he heads for the skies
- Published3 April 2016
- Published3 April 2016
- Published27 March 2016
- Published20 June 2016
- Published7 June 2019
