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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Leicester winger Marc Albrighton admits his career turnaround is a dream after scoring the Foxes’ first historic Champions League goal.
Leicester City will look to ride the wave of success from their debut Champions League win when they play host to Burnley on Saturday afternoon. “It’s a big test against everyone because with Rostov we are the only two teams never to play in the Champions League”, said Ranieri.
“After this, we were more calm and we could play our own match”.
“Maybe they think we will tire in the last 15 minutes but I don’t believe that”, he said.
“If he hadn’t scored I’d take his neck and crush his neck!” he said.
“He is a very good player and what is important is that now he understands he is a good player”.
A bad pass forced veteran Timmy Simons to bring Jamie Vardy down near the penalty box in the 28th minute and Mahrez curled the free kick home to make the rest of the Group G match a stroll for Leicester.
“Hopefully, we can pick something up at the weekend, carry this form into the league and do a good job there”.
“Now we play the first match, there are another five”.
Leicester will now go into Saturday s Premier League clash with Burnley oozing with confidence, but Club Brugge are left licking their wounds as their poor start to the campaign goes on.
“Maybe the music wake up him”.
Claudio Ranieri has warned he will go dilly ding, dilly dong again if his players are still basking in the Champions League’s afterglow instead of concentrating on visitors Burnley.
So we can take with a shovel full of salt Ranieri’s reflections.
The goal secured his position in the club’s history as their first-ever scorer in the competition, and their first in Europe since 2000.
“After two minutes we could have scored and the game was totally different”, lamented their coach Michel Preud homme. We want to win of course but it is a odd competition.
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Vardy hassled Stefano Denswil into losing the ball and the England striker raced through only to be taken out by Butelle and Mahrez gleefully converted from the spot – despite missing three of his previous four penalties.
