Claudio Ranieri admitted his Leicester City side were suffering from nerves after they began their Premier League title defence with a surprise 2-1 defeat at managerless Hull City. Robert Snodgrass then came crashing in, and delivered a powerful lef-footed shot past Schmeichel and into goal for the victor.
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City looked a shadow of the side that won the title by ten points, but Ranieri said it was impossible to replicate the flawless season and said this was the reality for his side after the fairy-tale.
“The first games are always hard”, said former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager Guardiola. Guardiola said his players needed to “take more risks” in possession and it is likely to be a while before they feel fully comfortable with the team’s new shape.
Leicester were starting life without N’Golo Kante, who has joined Chelsea, and were also without the suspended Robert Huth.
Adam Le Fondre is third on the list – but his sample size is much smaller than his rivals – with former Manchester United strikers Ruud van Nistelrooy and Javier Hernandez in fourth and fifth, respectively.
“But all credit to the football players”.
Ramirez hammered an effort against the post after being played in by Adam Clayton, and at the other end cleared Shaqiri’s testing corner off the line after Victor Valdes had failed to claim.
“We tried to win but sometimes it’s not possible”, Ranieri added. “We made some mistakes and we have to think where we made them”.
Manchester City brought Pep Guardiola as new manager and big signings were made.
It was the first time the defending English champions had opened the campaign with a defeat since 1989, when Arsenal lost at Manchester United. Please see our terms of service for more information.
“I thought the players had it in them to produce something”, Hull’s caretaker manager Mike Phelan told Sky Sports.
Hull have approached the season in a state of turmoil, with no permanent manager following Bruce’s resignation on July 22, and a thin squad stretched to its limits by injuries.
On Saturday that left Phelan with just 13 first-teamers, augmented by five academy players on a threadbare bench – and he admits things can not go on like that.
A superb header by Argentine Erik Lamela eared Tottenham a 1-1 draw at Everton on Ronald Koeman’s Premier League debut as the Toffees coach after Ross Barkley gave the home side an early lead at Goodison Park.
It was a reminder to Ranieri’s disjointed side that last season needs to be quickly filed under fairy story if this season is not to turn into an unhappy-ever-after.
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Tottenham dominated after the break and got a deserved equaliser on the hour mark when Lamela turned in Kyle Walker’s cross. “The negatives were that they were smarter and we have to concentrate for 90 minutes always”. “The reaction of the crowd and fans was fantastic”. When I said “40 points” a lot of people were laughing but it’s true. United will be looking to get a good start in the Premier League 2, a new format in the competition where players under the age of 23 can compete, including an overage goalkeeper and up to three overage outfield players.
