Claudio Ranieri will not seek big-name signings for Leicester City’s Premier League title defence in order to preserve the dressing room spirit at the King Power Stadium. He called me, one month and half ago, two months ago.
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Leicester haven’t even received the trophy yet, but Claudio Ranieri is already looking past the celebrations and toward next season.
Ranieri had flown back from having lunch in Rome with his 96-year-old mother and returned in time to watch the Chelsea versus Tottenham Hotspur game that clinched the title for City when Spurs threw away a two-goal lead and two points.
“I’ve followed the story of Leicester for months, I love this attractive story”, he told BBC Five Live. “About singing, he said ‘why not?'”
“It is good because last time I left the Premier League (in 2004) I went through my players and they made the guard of honour”. It was a long night celebrating and I am feeling a bit drained at the moment.
The Premier League is the 64-year-old’s first top-flight title in his managerial career and his mother has been receiving messages of congratulation from all over the world.
Sipping a glass of bubbly along with the press pack, Ranieri thanked “karma” for delivering his first major league title and said he had felt “something special” since the start of a season that will enter British sporting folklore. “I want to thank all my players, staff, the chairman and the fans, They were incredible”.
“If you have talent that’s one thing, but you still need hard work”, he said.
Ranieri’s side will face Everton without Robert Huth who has been banned for three matches by the Football Association for a violent conduct charge following an alleged hair-pulling incident involving Marouane Fellaini, who was also banned for three games after appearing to lash out in retaliation during last week’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
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Ramiro Funes Mori serves the final match of his three-game ban while winger Gerard Deulofeu’s campaign has been ended by a knee injury. “It is a fairytale but I think it is the exception”. I don’t see a problem with Jamie Vardy, as I don’t think anyone will pay a lot of money for him at 29, but the other two stars are a worry.
