“Now… slowly he can start to retrain with us and improve his condition”.
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Substitute Harry Kane’s 89th-minute penalty for Spurs earned a replay at the King Power Stadium next week.
Despite Sunday’s draw, which means Spurs have another match to think about, Pochettino was pleased that the players who did play showed that they are capable of starting in the Premier League.
Asked for his response at talk that Leicester could win the title, Ranieri smiled: “I laugh!”
With game appearing set for a stalemate, slack Spurs marking at a deep Christian Fuchs corner allowed Robert Huth space to nod the ball back across Lloris’s goal, leaving the Frenchman stranded and Leicester celebrating in front of the jubilant travelling fans.
The deadlock was eventually broken in the 83rd minute and it was Leicester who got the crucial goal, with Huth heading home from Fuch’s corner – and Tottenham were unable to respond.
“Hopefully, we are not going to have to regret this goal at the end of the championship”, said Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud, who scored two of the team’s goals.
“Leicester have done brilliantly proving everyone be they bookies, pundits and all the other so called experts completely wrong”, said Betfred boss Fred Done.
But Huth’s effort stunned the home crowd and ended Leicester’s run of over five hours without a league goal to move them level with Arsenal at the top of the league.
Spurs dominated the opening part of the game and enjoyed the best chance earlier in the second half, when Harry Kane saw his effort touched onto the bar by Kasper Schmeichel. “Tottenham started very well and put us under pressure but we didn’t lose our confidence or shape and it was hard for them”, Ranieri told BBC Sport.
And a Leicester team that was battling relegation last season is now eight points clear of fifth place and primed for a first-ever qualification for the Champions League. “We come out of the game with a lot of positives, but still some regrets”. “You feel disappointed but you need to carry on and keep working hard”, he reflected. “It’s my first season with them, but we are very solid”.
“We can play really well and believe in your philosophy, and need to accept that another team can play in a different way”, he said.
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Claudio Ranieri’s side will likely have plenty of support in the markets at odds-against quotes for their evening meeting with Aston Villa but the chance to back them at 7/1 (8.0) could be a fantastic opportunity.
