“Underdogs” Leicester just trying to avoid relegation next season
English Premier League champions Leicester City will be underdogs again next season and staying up in the top flight remains the priority despite this year’s fairytale success, manager Claudio Ranieri said.
Claudio Ranieri at a charity football match at the Monaco Grand Prix.
“We can fight but we are underdogs,” the Italian said overnight, Australian time.
“The fairytale happened once and we won. We want to defend our title of course, but for us it’s very, very important to maintain the Premier League.
“Our plan didn’t change. OK, we won. We want to defend our title. We know it will be difficult but we don’t care.”
The smiling manager dodged questions about the imminent return of old rival Jose Mourinho, the manager who replaced him at Chelsea, at Manchester United after the departure on Monday of Louis van Gaal.
“I don’t want to speak about this. Next season will be another fantastic season because (Pep) Guardiola is arriving (at Manchester City), (Antonio) Conte (at Chelsea) and Jose. It will be a very tough and good season,” he said.
Dismissed in November 2014 as national coach of Greece after a shock defeat to the Faroe Islands, he was appointed by Leicester to some consternation last year.
“Something happened in one month that changed my life,” he said of the final matches of the season that saw the Foxes finish 10 points clear of second place.
-Reuters
