Claudio Ranieri says Leicester’s Champions League win at Club Brugge may ignite their season after a sluggish start.
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But it was the flawless performance from the Foxes, 50-1 to win the competition after last season’s shock Premier League victory, although things could have been so different if the hosts had taken a glorious opportunity after two minutes. “I said to the players when you hear the Champions League music it charges the battery and makes you fight”, said Ranieri.
“There is no reason why we can’t win this competition”, he added. They won five of six unbeaten matches against bottom-six clubs last term, with the margin of victory just one goal on four occasions.
The victory is Leicester’s first in Europe since it took on Glenavon in the first round of the Cup Winners’ Cup in the 1961-1962 season.
The only sour note for Leicester was a booking for 29-million pound record signing Islam Slimani for a push on Bjorn Engels, which led to the defender falling awkwardly and injuring his shoulder.
Leicester never looked back, with Mahrez curling a lovely free-kick into the top corner to double their lead on the half-hour mark and converting a second-half penalty to seal the victory.
Unable to satisfactorily replace midfield dynamo N’Golo Kante, Leicester have struggled to compete in the centre of the park – a failing that was particularly brutally highlighted in last weekend’s 4-1 deconstruction at the hands of Liverpool. We showed exactly what we can do.
“We have started well and it gives us confidence and now we have to stay calm and put our minds to the next match on Saturday (against Burnley)”. Of course the Champions League is much better, but now we play just the first match.
Like we saw last year and the year before with Leicester, it’s awesome what one win can do for this team’s confidence.
“Of course, Burnley want to increase the tempo because they might think we’re exhausted, but I don’t believe it”.
With Porto and Copenhagen playing out a 1-1 draw, the group sets up nicely for Leicester to reach the knockout stages.
They will hope to start the resurgence when they face newcomers Burnley on Saturday.
“It feels special, I’m not getting any younger and to still be able to, at 32 years old, be involved in a competition like this is fantastic”, he said, with Leicester waiting to see how Danny Simpson recovers from a hamstring injury.
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“I think I have a feeling with my players”, said Ranieri.
