Only winning the Champions League would replicate the scenes that accompanied securing the Premier League title last term, and though even Leicester’s most ardent supporters would admit that is nearly impossible for the Foxes this term, there is a belief that they can still mix it with Europe’s good and great over the coming season.
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Marc Albrighton also got a goal on a flawless night for the Premier League champions as they ran out 3-0 winners against a poor Club Brugge side.
They were beaten 4-1 by Liverpool on Saturday and have lost twice in the league already this season but victory in Belgium on Wednesday left Ranieri delighted.
“It was some feeling, something I never thought I’d achieve”, said Albrighton, who has won a Premier League medal, played against Barcelona and now scored in the Champions League since being released by Aston Villa two years ago.
“For us everything is new”, Ranieri said at his pre-match news conference on Friday.
Admittedly, Club Brugge, who Manchester United easily dispatched of in the Champions League qualifying rounds last term, are not exactly elite competition, but Leicester performed admirably on what was another venture into unchartered territory for the club. “It was good for us to start our story with a victory”.
They will hope to start the resurgence when they face newcomers Burnley on Saturday.
“The problem is if someone is thinking of the [Champions League] music, then I ring my bell”. “Maybe he’s very exhausted of listening to the “dilly-ding dilly-dong” and he prefers to listen to the Champions League music”. We’ve just played the first match; there’s another five to go. Ludovic Butelle took Jamie Vardy out in the box, and Mahrez stepped up to slot the spot-kick for a 3-0 lead.
“I tried to say Slimani because he is a penalty scorer but he (Mahrez) has the personality to choose”, explained the Italian, adding with a grin: “If he doesn’t score I take the neck and I crush the neck”, he joked.
“We scored three goals but I don’t think it was a ideal performance”.
“Slimani is an intelligent player and I’m sure if he plays he will be fine.”other week”.
The Foxes marked their entry into the competition with an emphatic 3-0 win away to Club Brugge, leaving them top of Group G after Porto and Copenhagen drew 1-1.
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Taking over from Nigel Pearson, he recognised very quickly that he had every element of a good team in place and after a few half-hearted attempts to change things, he made a decision to leave well enough alone.
