Club legend Lineker has been left proud of Leicester’s achievements so far this season and believes that his former side could become sporting immortals if they can kick on and clinch the premiership.
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After watching them put in an abject display against Liverpool at Anfield in the Europa League on Thursday, the Scot wrote off United’s hopes of a place in the top four, while predicting that West Ham would spring another huge surprise by edging out Manchester City for fourth place.
“That is our goal”.
“Maybe we can achieve Champions League – wow, amazing”.
As long as Pellegrini picks most of his top players, City are a confident selection on the handicap against Norwich.
Leicester’s five-point lead will be cut to two by Tottenham if Spurs beat Aston Villa on Sunday but Ranieri knows it is an unpredictable year.
“I am very angry we lost in the FA Cup and the League Cup”.
Watching this small but significant detail it is easy to understand why Ranieri has made such an astonishing impact at Leicester, taking them five points clear in most thrilling title race in decades.
“Now I remember Newcastle and Crystal Palace, and after that we have a break and I forget”.
When Leicester appointed Ranieri in succession to sacked manager Nigel Pearson before the start of this season, Lineker was unimpressed by the Italian’s credentials.
They did it courtesy of Shinji Okazaki’s superb overhead kick midway through the first half and, while City were not at their bristling best, they showed character to secure another victory which edges them closer to a first-ever English title.
“A collection of individuals who couldn’t win a football match for love nor money a year ago have turned into an invincible force…All beautifully held together by the canny, inspirational – yes, inspirational – Tinkerman”, he said in a reference to the disparaging nickname Ranieri received during a brief spell in charge of Chelsea. I played for them for eight years.
“My focus is on Newcastle, my study is on Newcastle, my obsession is Newcastle”, he said.
Asked if he meant they would play less, Ranieri added: “I laugh and I say, ‘Hey, look, why do you go there?”
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“I think it is important not to think about how many games we need to win”, said Pellegrini, who will be replaced by Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola at the end of the season.
