“If there is some news then I speak when something happens”. And now I want more.
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“Sometimes during my career I’ve created some unrealistic targets but by creating these you push the team to unexpected levels. The reality is I always feel for players, managers, clubs that this kind of establishment of very hard targets can only help us”.
Despite their status as champions, Leicester go into the new campaign with few expecting the club to repeat last season’s heroics.
“I was satisfied at the end of last season, but now I am hungry again”, he said.
“Against Barcelona we lost but I watched a team”.
“I don’t have a particular way of playing football that I take from club to club, because you find yourself with different players at each club”.
“You can’t tell me: ‘This is my maximum.’ I want more than the maximum of last season”.
“Knowing Sam as I do, they’ll enjoy working together”. Suffer for your team-mates, that is my philosophy.
“When I have built something, it has never been destroyed”, said Ranieri. Now we are slowly making a ground floor, then the first floor, the foundations are very solid.
Leicester lost N’Golo Kante in a £30million deal to Chelsea last month with Mendy, who joined from Nice, his expected midfield replacement, but Ranieri admitted he is yet to discover how they will cope without the France global. When is the Community Shield a friendly?
“I expect to meet a very strong team, organised, big champions, on the pitch”, Ranieri said.
Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves is backing their move for Juventus star Paul Pogba.
“It will be a true match to win the cup, and it is my first time at Wembley, so I am very excited”. I like the players to feel it.
Leicester’s season will not be defined by the Community Shield, although its narrative could be set by events at Wembley. As previously indicated however, Ranieri will require to run a calculated squad rotation system, so as to ensure his players remain fresh whilst competing both domestically and in the Champions League.
Mourinho made sure to refer to Louis van Gaal as a top manager and said he was perfectly entitled to his methods, but explained that after two years they have become pretty much ingrained.
“I spoke to Shakey and Sam, I’m really pleased for him, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer bloke”, said Pearson.
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He described Leicester’s 5,000-1 title win as “magic” and the pair were photographed embracing prior to a Soccer Aid charity match in June.
