Ranieri has consistently played down Leicester’s title chances, but after seeing his team outclass their nearest rivals to move six points clear at the league summit, he admitted that they are very much in contention.
Advertisement
“We’re just enjoying the ride”, said Jamie Vardy, who leads the Premier League with 18 goals.
Celebrity fan and club shareholder Morgan believes that only Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez would be guaranteed a place in Leicester’s first-team.
There next game is against title contenders Arsenal on Valentines day and hopefully 3 points would nearly guarantee European football for the Foxes next season and break their title winning duck. We couldn’t do it, now we are six points behind Leicester and have another 39 points to play for.
“I don’t know, but it’s fantastic that we’ve earned the question”, he said.
Ranieri has shrewdly maintained the team-first mentality espoused by Pearson, while employing a laid-back approach that allows Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez the freedom to express themselves on and off the pitch.
There is little doubting the importance of Vardy and Mahrez to Leicester’s set up with Vardy starting every league game this season. “In an era when money counts for everything, I think we give hope to everybody”. “We are in a very good position in the league but the philosophy from the beginning of the season has been to go step by step”, said manager Mauricio Pochettino. At the moment, Leicester are the ones to beat. They need more time to recover.”We play on Saturdays and then Sunday is free for everyone”, he said”. Wenger has long lamented what he viewed as an inability and unwillingness to compete with Manchester City, United and Chelsea financially, but there would be nowhere to hide if Arsenal miss out on the championship to either of the sides now above them.
They pulled one back when Aguero guided a cross from Premier League debutant substitute Bersant Celina past Schmeichel and the Argentina star nearly capitalised on a poor backpass from Danny Simpson to further reduce the deficit.
The likes of Leicester, Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City – the clubs now occupying the top-four spots – may get their matches brought forward into the new Friday night TV slot ahead of European games the following midweek.
Advertisement
Their deeds on the pitch comprehensively failed to measure up, though, and Leicester exploited them mercilessly. Now they can remember the pressure they faced last season, they can smell how it was and stay calm this season.
