HIGHLIGHT
Leicester City Manager Claudio Ranieri has said he would have left the club last season but changed his mind.
Claudio Ranieri
Ranieri was linked to the Italy job after winning a shock Premier League title with Leicester last season. But, ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League round-of-16 tie at Sevilla, the 65-year-old now sees the Foxes fighting relegation — they sit one point above the drop zone.
Leicester issued a statement backing Ranieri earlier this month with their title defence in tatters and he is prepared to repay that faith, having ignored interest after winning the league last May.
“I could leave last season, I won the title and I had something with other teams but I wanted to stay here because I knew it was a difficult year,” he told a news conference.
“I came here to build, to build something good for Leicester, for everybody. I keep going, I maintain my mind in this way. I forget the title and I want to achieve something good for the fans, chairman and the city.”
Speculation over Ranieri’s position has intensified given Leicester’s poor title defence, but he remains focused on Sevilla. And he also urged his players to stay in the tie ahead of next month’s second leg at the King Power Stadium.
He said: “Maybe without the heavy league, we have clear minds and we know we are underdogs. If you see the last 10 years what Sevilla achieved, they are used to staying up the top but we are ready to fight and play our football. I am confident about a good match tomorrow.
“I ask my players to stay in the game for 90 plus minutes, to be strong, to help each other. I don’t think about Arsenal [and their second-half capitulation at Bayern Munich last week] — I think about Leicester and Sevilla.
“Of course the first match is always important to understand. If we play our football it could be very good match tomorrow.”
