Riyad Mahrez: Leicester can handle any Champions League pressure

Riyad Mahrez has laughed off suggestions that Leicester City are under pressure to advance in the UEFA Champions League, when they host Club Brugge on Tuesday.

“For me it is important to see my players training well, fighting every match, you have to accept the result”, Ranieri said while talking of the 2-1 defeat to Watford.

Club Brugge are one of only two teams still on zero points in the tournament, in addition to Dinamo Zagreb, and are just hoping for a strong finish against Leiceister and Copenhagen to salvage their reputation in Europe. That’s important. The name is not important.

“Our fairytale is continuing”, Ranieri said.

“I don’t know which team we’ll play but it’ll be a fantastic team”.

Ranieri was full of praise for his players, who are guaranteed top spot in Group G after Porto could only draw with Copenhagen.

The closest Leicester got to a European trip in recent years was crossing the Welsh border to play Swansea in the Premier League. “Another journey – it’s unbelievable”, Ranieri said.

Referring to his side’s poor league form the Italian added: “Maybe we have been more concentrated in the Champions League”.

First-half goals from Shinji Okazaki and Riyad Mahrez secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Club Brugge at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday. “I’m very careful about this”.

“I think Leicester play very similar to how other English teams and I think we are the ones who have brought a different type of football to England now”.

Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price. The forward produced a first-time finish to give the hosts an ideal start, although he fluffed an nearly identical chance soon after when Club Brugge again left him unmarked.

On 22 November 2008, Leicester played Scunthorpe United in League One, winning 2-1 thanks to a goal by Andy King.

Dion Cools lost possession just outside the Leicester box and Marc Albrighton started a rapid break by finding Jamie Vardy, who then fed Christian Fuchs.

Leverkusen appeared to be sealing their place in the knockout stages before Spurs kicked off following Kevin Volland’s first-half opener, only for CSKA Moscow to equalise from the penalty spot through Bebras Natcho with 14 minutes remaining.

Dortmund is two points clear and needs a draw in Madrid to ensure seeded status in the Round of 16 draw.

“We finished well so it is okay, but we lack confidence because in the Premier League, when something happens we concede a goal”.

Saturday’s defeat at Watford was also the first time they have lost back-to-back league games since February 2015, when they were rooted to the bottom of the table before embarking on a miraculous recovery to stay in the top-flight.

“Of course they are lacking confidence because in the Premier League when something happens they score a goal”.