“Every match is the biggest test for us”, Ranieri told the league’s official website.
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Instead, this weekend is all about whether Leicester can pull off its biggest shock yet and finally be recognized as a genuine title contender. After all, they were only promoted to the Premier League last season – surely the more experienced and richer teams would be able to easily get them out of their way?
“The others [are favourites]”. “This is team spirit at its highest”. We believe we are working well. “The market is good, everybody wants to buy something, we are happy”. “It would go down in history surely”.
But City’s assured performance at Sunderland suggested otherwise and that ability to concentrate on the game ahead, rather than focusing too far into the future, is what will see them through the campaign according to French defender Gael Clichy.
City are backed by Thailand billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and his King Power empire, and they have similar aspirations, to turn City into a footballing force, not just in England.
Pellegrini’s City are still fighting on four fronts, with the club retaining hope of giving the 62-year-old a triumphant send-off before Pep Guardiola takes the reins at the Etihad from next season.
Klopp will therefore need to continue to look for goals from elsewhere following a three-match goalless run as Liverpool play their only league game of the month.
Meanwhile, Manchester United will try to move closer to the fourth spot when they collide with defending champions Chelsea on Sunday at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea is 13th and can probably forget about making up ground to the European positions in the top five. A week later, they visit Arsenal.
Also Saturday, it’s: Liverpool vs. Sunderland; Aston Villa vs. Norwich; Newcastle vs. West Bromwich Albion; Swansea vs. Crystal Palace; and Southampton vs. West Ham. It’s an open game as they want to win.
“I think it (City’s rise) is not so fast as Manchester City”, said Ranieri.
“With the way our manager is and the lads are now, we will go into it and make sure we are set up right and plan right for how to beat them”.
The way he is going, Rooney could get the six goals he needs to break Bobby Charlton’s United career scoring record by the end of this season.
Their players have not been able to build up much form this season, in part thanks to their manager’s persistence with rotation.
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Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has said that Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy deserves all the praise that has come the Englishman’s way this season.
