Leicester champions? ‘Why not?’ says Ranieri

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri, whose team settled for a scoreless draw in their first meeting in December, said that their upcoming fixtures, including their match against Manchester City, will also be big tests for the Foxes, knowing that one mistake could change their fortunes this season.

Mahrez capitalised on a poor challenge from Zabaleta to bear down on goal, and turned Martin Demichelis before whipping a superb shot past Joe Hart three minutes after the restart.

Furthermore, the four-goal swing in goal difference meant that as well as a six-point lead over City, Leicester’s goal difference of +20 is now just one goal worse than their chief rivals’.

Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy and Kelechi Iheanacho are among the players on the bench today for the Citizens, who can go top of the standings with a victory.

With Aguero back in good form, City have what it takes to secure a vital win that will kickstart their run towards another Premier League title. “This is a insane league and a insane season, I don’t want to make any predictions, but we are still alive and ready to fight again in the next game”.

The 2014/15 Premier League season will be remembered for Leicester’s great escape.

Guardiola, who won back-to-back German league titles with Bayern and is on course for a third after joining in 2013, agreed a three-year contract with City this week and will begin work ahead of next season. “Now we are six points behind but there are still 39 points to play for”.

Coming from someone so well travelled and experienced that is quite a compliment, though Leicester’s league position alone suggests there is substance to what the manager says. “My mind goes over seven days and the next game against Arsenal, a tough match with fantastic players”.

Aguero, whose season has been disrupted by injury, was top scorer in the league last season with 26 goals and is firmly established among the world’s top striking talents.

Asked if he had told his players that he believes they can lift the title, the affable Italian said: “You want to know if I told something to my players?!” You can play a ideal match but they’ll win because they have magicians.

This was only the second time in his Premier League career that he’s scored more than once in a game, with the German last scoring two in February 2011 for Stoke v Sunderland. “I don’t think it is fair to try to have excuses for other things”. We have to keep going.