They drew the original FA Cup fixture 2-2 at White Hart Lane and days later beat Mauricio Pochettino’s side 1-0 in the Premier League thanks to Robert Huth’s powerful header.
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Ranieri’s side are level on points with league leaders Arsenal, seven points ahead of fifth-placed Manchester United, and the former Chelsea boss is revelling in Leicester’s role as the gatecrasher.
Turning to the cup tie, Ranieri said Matty James may return from eight months out with a knee injury against Spurs, although he may start on the bench after 30 minutes’ action with the development squad on Monday.
Both sides are capable of reaching the latter stages of the FA Cup but priorities may lie elsewhere with unlikely title challenges still not out of the question in either camp.
“The gaffer keeps telling us to keep thinking of the final at Wembley and what a big occasion it would be for us all.
As much as we expect them to fall away in the league, which I think they will, I fancy them to come through here”.
Arsenal settled for a scoreless draw against Stoke on Sunday at Britannia Stadium but managed to stay on top of the Premier League table heading into Week 23.
How many times have you heard punters say “No one seems to want the title this season”?
However, the Algeria worldwide has not found the back of the net in his last five matches and Ranieri believes the winger’s dip in form may be because opposing defenders are singling him out for special attention. It’s hard to imagine a top global player joining over the next two weeks and telling reporters “ever since I was a kid, it was my dream to play for Leicester”. “I know it is very hard and ambitious but why not?”
Meanwhile, Matty James may make his long-awaited return to the Leicester squad against Tottenham in the cup.
“I watched a lot of matches from last season”. Before that they played in January 2015 and Stoke City won the game 0 – 1.
‘He is young, he is strong, with a good personality, good skill, good vision.
Yet having inherited a team built by the archetypal English manager in Pearson, Ranieri’s smartest decision to date has been simply to allow his players to do what they are good at without imposing his own philosophy on the squad.
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Demarai Gray could make his home debut for Leicester, whilst Andy King and Leonardo Ulloa are both in with a chance to impress. “It’s very hard. Sometimes we need to pick different players, to share the minutes and try to play like this”, said Pochettino.
