Claudio Ranieri hopes no one will wake his Leicester team from their dream season, but expects rival clubs to step up the mind games during the Premier League run-in.
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Arsène Wenger says his side can not wait for Sunday’s top-of-the-table fixture against Leicester City because it is the kind of game they relish.
Ranieri has repeatedly said his side are able to play without pressure because they are hugely exceeding expectations, but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is among those trying to change that.
With Chelsea and Manchester United having a awful season and City playing not very convincing this is Arsenal’s chance to bring home the title they have been waiting for more than a decade. Why do we have pressure?
“Of course it is very romantic and I understand the whole country being behind them”, he added.
“You want everybody there when the game starts”, the Arsenal boss said when asked if he would be disappointed if fans came in late.
In contrast, Gabriel is much better suited to handle the pace that Leicester possesses.
The price of tickets in the Premier League has been a hot topic this week with thousands of Liverpool supporters walking out of last weekend’s game at Anfield against Sunderland in protest at the rising costs.
“It’s a 12-point gap (to fifth place and) for us to achieve the Champions League would be fantastic”.
“We want to fight – with the respect to all our opponents – face to face”.
“The pressure is on the other teams”. “Arsenal – a big pressure, because Arsène [Wenger] spends a lot of money every year”, Ranieri said. “Tell me why I must feel pressure?” It’s a great story so why the pressure?
Writing for the Mirror, the BBC pundit has warned the French coach that the Gunners can not afford to slip up, while insisting that the weekend clash is the biggest in the Foxes’ history, as Claudio Ranieri’s side look to establish their lead at the pinnacle of the Premier League.
Leicester will be near full strength, although Jeff Schlupp remains sidelined by a hamstring injury and Daniel Amartey is not ready to feature following his January move from FC Copenhagen.
Tottenham, who travel to Manchester City on Sunday, have quietly gone about their business, with Leicester stealing all the headlines, and find themselves in second place with the best defensive record in the league with only 19 goals conceded in 25 games.
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“I believe they are still in a position where they think where they have nothing to lose”.
