Foxes can't repeat title glory - Ranieri

By Daily Sports on May 4, 2016

Claudio Ranieri warned Leicester City fans, who were still in dreamland on Tuesday following their side's "unbelievable" Premier League triumph, that a repeat next season could not happen.

The Foxes' Italian manager, talking for the first time since Leicester's victory was sealed on Monday evening when nearest rivals Tottenham Hotspur failed to beat Chelsea, said their target now as champions would be a top-10 position.

It was a typical response from Ranieri, who has spent all season dampening down the expectations of supporters only to finally oversee a triumph considered perhaps the most unlikely in the annals of English football.

Ranieri, back at the Leicester training ground and meeting up with his players for the first time since they were crowned champions, described their success as "unbelievable".

He said it was the manner in which they had played "with their heart and soul" that had been the secret of their success.

Yet asked if Leicester could repeat the feat, which had been rated a 5 000-1 shot at the start of the season, in their next campaign, Ranieri told Sky Sports: "No. I think no, but of course we want to continue to build.

"When I came here, the project was to build a very good foundation and slowly, slowly grow up together and in three, four years to fight for the Europa League, then the Champions League.

"This season is out of our project, but our foundations are very, very solid. We know very well we have to fight for 10th position," he said.

"We want to do our best. I'm positive and I want to fight. Yes, a top 10 target, to make a very good campaign in Europe and the Cup and to make sure the season is safe and then something more."

The Italian reckoned that he did not want to sell any of his players, some of whom may well be the target for bigger clubs after their stellar season, but any new signings would have to buy into Leicester's all-for-one spirit.

"I don't want to sell nobody. If some players don't want to stay with us because they're not happy with us, then I don't want unhappy people. Then we are looking to reinforce the team but with the same mentality. Because it's my mentality."

Ranieri said there had been no great celebrations in his house in the Midlands, unlike those of his players who had enjoyed a party at the home of their star striker Jamie Vardy after watching Spurs draw 2-2 with Chelsea on TV, the result that sealed the crown.

He had flown home from Italy, where he had lunch with his 96-year-old mother Renata, on Monday evening and watched the game with his wife, before calling the rest of his family back in Rome.

After 28 years as a manager with a distinguished reputation but who always seemed to miss out on the biggest prizes, Ranieri smiled: "Look, in my mind, I always believed I have to win a title.

"I want to win. I don't know where, but I want to win something. This is my strength. Always I'm a positive man and always I believe I can achieve something."

Nevertheless, he admitted he had not actually believed Leicester would win until the final whistle at Stamford Bridge on Monday night.

"It was unbelievable because we wanted to do something special, but nobody could think we could have achieved this. It was an amazing season for us. I believe in my players but I was so happy last night."

•Culled from Supersports.com. Photo shows Claudio Ranieri.

Source Daily Sports

Posted May 4, 2016


 

You may also like...
Woods suffer new career blow

Lessons from Rohr’s ingratitude to Nigeria

Mata Sends United Through To FA Cup Fourth...

AC Milan Stalemate Piles On Misery For Juventus...

Pulev battle ready for Joshua in October 28...

Egyptian football star placed on terror list

 

Latest News CAF awards: Ajibade, Nnadozie, Edo Queens bag nominations Lagos SWAN, PAACC Hold SWAN Day At Golfview Hotels, Ikeja Crisis looms as Eagles’ form raises AFCON, W’Cup concerns Ex-Nigerian Super Falcons player handcuffed, children assaulted as police storm Anambra Football Academy Sports NFF, teammates console Nwabali on father’s death Abia Govt hails Nigeria Olympic Committee over staging an admin course in Umuahia Libya deliver Eagles 2025 AFCON ticket Eagles battle Cheetahs for 2025 AFCON ticket Yellow Greens gear up for T20 W’Cup qualifiers Tyson tips Fury to beat Joshua Sadiq absent as 22 Eagles train in Abidjan Eagles’ striking trio hot for Cheetahs, Amavubi clashes

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,163 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,307 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,369 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,015 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,948 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,904 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,742 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,311 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,366 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,054 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,506 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,931 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media