The Italian, who signed a new four-year contract earlier today, guided Leicester to an unlikely league title ahead of Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City.
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Why did newly appointed Chelsea manager Antonio Conte want to speak to Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri?
Claudio Ranieri’s men defied the odds time and time again last season on their way to a historic first Premier League title and it will be fascinating to see how the Foxes cope with the weight of expectation on their shoulders this time around. “I am very happy and proud that I will be part of it for years to come”.
Now everybody must understand that there is no Kante, so we have to think different and close space quicker.
The English Premier League kicks off this weekend with new Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho serving notice the revamped Red Devils are title contenders once more after defeating defending champion Leicester City a week earlier in the annual Charity Shield game.
Showing a remarkable refusal to crack under pressure despite their lack of big-match experience, they finished a staggering 10 points clear of second-placed Arsenal (71). Leicester have tried to keep up with the elite, breaking their transfer record twice within a week as they spent £13m on French midfielder Nampalys Mendy and £16m on Nigerian striker Ahmed Musa.
Sunderland just did enough last season to stay up but this time around they will be without their manager, “Big Sam”, and that will take a lot out of this side since he was the soul of the club.
But Leicester’s spending was dwarfed by Paul Pogba’s world record £89 million move to United and City’s £47.5 million capture of John Stones, while Chelsea paid £30 million to sign the influential Kante.
Can Leicester continue the party this season?
Ranieri said: “It is more difficult and at the beginning it will be hard”.
The Premier League begins on Saturday and they’re managerless after only having nine players fit during pre-season, with only one senior centre available.
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And in another boost for the Premier League champions, Riyad Mahrez has accepted he will not be allowed to leave this month after talks between his representatives and the club’s director of football.
