Pressure now on title rivals, says Leicester’s Ranieri

Leicester extended their lead at the summit to five points over the weekend with a 3-1 win at Manchester City which provided the biggest evidence yet that they can maintain their unlikely title challenge this season.

Claudio Ranieri has revealed the -secrets behind Leicester City’s remarkable season, insisting the Premier League’s surprise story “gives hope to everybody”.

“I do have to pinch myself every day really but it has taken a lot of hard work to be honest”, said Vardy.

William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams said the big United Kingdom bookmakers face paying out £10m if the title goes to the King Power stadium.

The 64-year-old has never won a top-flight league title during an itinerant 30-year managerial career, which featured stops at 12 clubs including Juventus, Roma and Inter Milan, while his last major silverware was the 1999 Copa del Rey with Valencia. Defender Robert Huth scored inside three minutes and again on the hour after Riyad Mahrez netted at the start of the second half.

The brains behind the molding of the team is Steve Walsh, the former Leicester player turned head of recruitment and assistant manager, who unearthed gems like Jamie Vardy. “Difficult, because you’re playing against a team with players of fantastic quality, but we concentrated very much”. We’re just enjoying it aren’t we? I think it’s over anyway.

Now bottom of Serie A with just one win from 24 games, Verona pulled off a major shock to claim the title in 1985.

“I have to say that is disingenuous”.

“I always tell my players to find the fire within themselves”, Ranieri said.

“My mind goes over the next seven days – Arsenal, another tough match, other fantastic players, another fantastic stadium”.

Liverpool, with goals from Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana, were 2-0 up when numerous home fans left and they at least missed their side’s capitulation as efforts by Adam Johnson and Jermain Defoe, a minute from time, earned Sunderland a point. That was a miraculous save, but this is Leicester – surely their second season in the top tier will bring them back to reality and relegation, right?

“My players are very intelligent in every situation”.

Injuries and fatigue have clearly take their toll on this City squad and it was another young looking bench with few genuine options on Saturday and looking at the sides around them – in particular Leicester, who were so impressive – they have a vibrancy that City has lacked.

“We’ll see what happens between Arsenal and Leicester. There are too many things that can happen with 39 points more to play for – but this was a defeat we didn’t expect”.