Arsenal and Liverpool meet at the Emirates Stadium in an early test of their title credentials on Sunday, with Arsene Wenger describing the new campaign as a “world championship of managers”. For the first time since the end of May, the Italian faced the country’s media in the build-up to a league match.
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Last season I tipped Man Utd for the league and am doing so again.
On the day of his appointment, Lineker – who began his playing career with the Foxes – questioned why the club had appointed the former Chelsea boss in the wake of Nigel Pearson’s departure from the club. This message was heavily maintained by Ranieri throughout last season even when the Premier League trophy was within touching distance.
“Hull will want to show their best but we’re very concentrated now and we want to play our game”, said Ranieri. “We have got that, not just from Manchester United, but from Manchester City and Chelsea too”. This is a new experience for Leicester players so they will have to catch on very quickly. “Also Musa can play in a wide position, behind Jamie or alongside Jamie”.
“Of course the big teams are ready to fight for the title, we are ready to defend our title but we know it is a hard gap, last season we made something unbelievable”.
For a few years now, top players have been moving to other European leagues but over the course of this summer we have seen a shift with players now wanting to come to England.
He also explained why he thinks John Stones is going to be an important player for Manchester City this season.
Leicester City confirmed the news on Twitter as well as on their official website.
A phrase that everyone involved with Leicester will be sick of hearing by now, the magical 40 point aim.
And Ranieri also reiterated his belief that last season’s PFA player of the year Riyad Mahrez is available for selection and will remain with the Foxes despite being continually linked with a move to Arsenal. They lost one season in the life of a big team.
“The big teams are ready to fight for the title and we are ready to defend our title”, he said.
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It could take time for Guardiola to forge his own team but he knows City must hit the ground running after failing to live up to their billing as favourites last season.
