Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri was disappointed with his side’s teamwork as they began their title defence with a 2-1 defeat to newly promoted Hull City on the opening day of the Premier League season.
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It is the first time the Premier League champions have ever lost on the opening day of the following season.
“We tried to win but sometimes it’s not possible”, Ranieri added.
Sergio Aguero’s early penalty for City was erased by Jermain Defoe’s second-half equaliser before an 87th-minute own goal from debutant Paddy McNair gifted the points to Guardiola’s side despite their inconsistent display.
“Leicester knew the togetherness, the mentality and the character we showed (last season)”, said Snodgrass, “and I think that’s what got us through in the end”.
The worst thing about it is, Hull were deemed a definite relegation contender following a preseason of discontent that culminated in Steve Bruce leaving his post as manager of the side along with mixed messages regarding a potential takeover.
Meanwhile, Swansea City won 1-0 at promoted Burnley courtesy of an 82nd-minute strike by Leroy Fer, who tapped in after debutant Fernando Llorente’s header was saved by Tom Heaton. “The effort was fantastic, but individual effort – not as a team”.
“It’s a case of the players galvanised each other today against the champions of the Premier League”.
Perhaps the Hull City players were just happy to get to play football and have 90 minutes to forget all that was going on around them or perhaps they were auditioning for hopes of moves around the league before August is over.
Boro took the lead as Alvaro Negredo nodded the ball over the line from close range but Marten de Roon was forced off with what looked like a hamstring injury before the break.
Jamie Vardy, so lethal last season, had three wonderful chances to open his 2016-17 account but erred on each occasion.
“The first half was hard for us and we did not play well”, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said. But Saints hit back soon after half-time as Redmond scored on his debut with a fine volley after Heurelho Gomes failed to clear his lines with a weak punch.
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“Against Manchester United [in the Community Shield] we played as a team, today it was big effort but not together”.
