Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri has told Riyad Mahrez he must improve after the winger committed his future to the east midlands club.
Advertisement
‘He has to play better because we are now also in the Champions League and we need something more to play against these big teams. “So it will be hard for us but we need to play together like last season with high intensity and if we do that I think we can win”.
Danny Drinkwater is in talks with Leicester to extend his contract.
“I’m happy to continue the adventure with Leicester City”, he told the club’s official TV channel.
Ranieri realises his team awaits a tough task on Sunday morning (AEST), but he is hopeful they have what it takes to get a good result.
Arsenal did the double over Leicester last season, inflicting two of their three league defeats with a 5-2 away win and a last-gasp 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium.
Vardy converted from the spot in that contest, and Wenger is expecting another tough match from a Foxes team that now has a championship pedigree. Our owner is very ambitious, he wants to maintain the same squad. “We’re at our home ground and we want to put on a good display”.
The reigning Professional Footballers Association Player of the Year has followed in the footsteps of club-mate Jamie Vardy by agreeing a long-term deal that ties him to the club until 2020 and includes a significant pay rise. It’s normal other managers are looking at Leicester players, there’s no message – we are building and want to stay together.
The England global has wanted an upgrade to bring him alongside top earners Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and Kasper Schmeichel – all on £100,000 per week – and the club are prepared to table such an offer.
“I’m very pleased about Mahrez’s renewal, but I was always confident”, Ranieri added.
Advertisement
“Maybe Riyad could be now a little more free. But he was never really anxious or nervous”.
