Leicester V Man City at The King Power Stadium : Match Preview

09 December 2016 16:34
Leicester V Man City - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Claudio Ranieri eyes Leicester improvement as Manchester City arrive

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri insists the next two months will define the Foxes' season.

The champions are just two points above the relegation zone only seven months after winning the Premier League in one of sport's biggest shocks.

They lost 5-0 in their final Champions League Group G game in Porto on Wednesday, having already qualified for the last 16, and now have a break from Europe until February with the draw for the second round made on Monday.

Leicester host Manchester City on Saturday and Ranieri is keen to focus on their league problems now they can forget the distraction of Europe.

He said: "This part of the season is our key moment.

"The players aren't satisfied, they want to play better and fight more but it's important to fight together as a team. Our strength was this, if we made a dream last season it's because we were together, not because we were a big team. With our effort we made a story.

"Do you see the same team from last season? I don't see, we have to react, to come back."

Leicester have not won in the top flight since beating Crystal Palace 3-1 in October, their only victory in their last eight league games.

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City have won just four of their last 14 games and have slipped to fourth in the Premier League, four points behind leaders Chelsea.

Sergio Aguero is banned this weekend, but Yaya Toure's drink-driving charge will not affect his own chances of selection.

Fernandinho's dismissal during City's 3-1 defeat by Chelsea last weekend and subsequent three-match ban increases Toure's chances of returning to the starting line-up.

Guardiola said: "I spoke to him about the issue. He gave me his reasons. I trust him.

"I said before he played at Crystal Palace that he's part of the team because he's training good. He's fit. I love midfield players. If I could play with 11 midfield players I would, and he's one of them."

Despite Leicester's early-season problems, Guardiola expects Ranieri's team to come good.

He said: "The Premier League is tough. Sometimes it can happen. I have a lot of respect for Claudio Ranieri.

"They have a lot of quality and I'm pretty sure they are going to come back to what they deserve."


Source: PAR