With a first English Premier League title under their belts and a place secured among Europe’s elite, Leicester City could be forgiven for expecting the silverware to just keep coming, but the Foxes’ Italian boss Claudio Ranieri is keeping his players’ feet firmly on the ground, insisting the goal for this season remains the same as 12 months earlier — avoiding relegation.
“It’s the same this season at the start — to achieve 40 points, at the beginning, to be solid and to believe in yourself,” the 64-year-old manager said.
Leicester, 5,000-1 outsiders in pre-season last year, were crowned champions for the first time in their 132-year history in May, handing Ranieri his first domestic title as a manager.
Photo: AFP
Ranieri has been busy in the transfer market, beating the club record outlay twice in a week to secure French midfielder Nampalys Mendy for £13 million (US$17.2 million) and Nigerian forward Ahmed Musa for £16.6 million.
One of Ranieri’s biggest headaches ahead of the season opener at Hull City will be keeping his team of newly-minted all-stars together, with big-spending Premier League rivals dangling lucrative contracts. Wales international midfielder Andy King — the only player in the Premier League era to have won titles in the top three tiers — gave the manager a boost by signing a four-year deal on Friday.
The 27-year-old, who made his Leicester City debut in 2007, joins 19-year-old Ben Chilwell in committing to the King Power Stadium along with Jamie Vardy, who has rejected an offer from Arsenal.
Ranieri told reporters King was “a good example for everybody,” and described Chilwell as “one of the best young players in the UK.”
However, the team’s all-action defensive midfielder N’Golo Kante went earlier this month on a five-year deal to Chelsea for a reported £32 million.
Kante, who signed for Leicester last year from French club Stade Malherbe Caen for a bargain £5.6 million, was a revelation in breaking down attacks and was shortlisted for the Professional Footballers’ Association Players’ Player of the Year award.
Ranieri said he expected Leicester to cope fine without the star, as they had when Argentine midfielder Esteban Cambiaso moved to Greek giants Olympiakos in the summer last year.
Kante’s teammate, Algeria international Riyad Mahrez, has also been at the center of summer transfer speculation alongside Kasper Schmeichel and Danny Drinkwater.
However, Ranieri said he expects all three to still be at the club when the transfer window closes.
“I think they want to stay with us to try to improve our last season. We know it is very difficult, but we are ambitious,” Ranieri said. “It is important they sign, stay with us and [get] experience in the Champions League.”
Ranieri said the chairman, Thai billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, was ready to fork out if the manager decided he needed more players.
Poland international Bartosz Kapustka, 19, confirmed on Friday he is is on the verge of a £7.5 million switch from Polish club KS Cracovia.
“We are waiting and when this player is with us I will tell you something more,” Ranieri said.
One problem for Ranieri going into the new season is that the Foxes have lost the element of surprise and will not benefit again from being underestimated by their opponents.
“We have to change something because the other teams know us very well. We have to make a plan B,” Ranieri said.
Towering captain Wes Morgan, who signed a new contract with the club to June 2019, played every minute of Leicester’s title-winning campaign and was a key part of their success, forming a rock-solid central defensive partnership with Robert Huth.
He said his teammates were still “buzzing” over their title win, but warned: “We can’t dwell on that. There’s another season ahead and we have to focus on that.”
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely