Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri savouring changing times in the Premier League
Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri thinks the gap between the Barclays Premier League elite and the rest of the division is narrowing.
In a season that has been the most unpredictable and open campaign since the inception of the Premier League in 1992, the Foxes are the perfect case in point.
This time last year, under Nigel Pearson, Leicester seemed destined for relegation but 12 months on they find themselves level on points with top-of-the-table Arsenal and it would take a shocking collapse for the Foxes not to be competing in Europe again - after a 16-year absence - next season.
Stoke, Leicester's opponents at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, can point to reigning champions Chelsea and both Manchester clubs on their list of scalps.
Asked if the gap was getting smaller, Ranieri said: "Yes. The table says there is no gap. However, everybody who knows football knows there is a big gap between Leicester and the other teams.
"This league is crazy. Tottenham, Stoke, Crystal Palace and West Ham - and I don't mention the big clubs. All these are fighting to achieve the European places. And Stoke is another tough match.
"It is changing. Last season it began with Chelsea and ended with Chelsea. Before that it began with Manchester City and ended with Manchester City.
"This season we are fighting. It is changing not only for us but for all teams.
"I am very pleased with my players because against teams like Tottenham I didn't see it (the gap). The statistics say there's no gap between Tottenham, who started 10-15 years ago to build a very good solid building, and Leicester who started this season."
Following the FA Cup exit to Tottenham, against whom Leicester fielded a starting line-up containing several fringe players, Ranieri will bring back his key men as Wes Morgan, Robert Huth, Ngolo Kante, Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy return to face Stoke.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes feels it would be foolish to suggest Leicester's impressive season is finally on the wane.
The Foxes go into Saturday's top-flight home clash against Stoke having won only one of their last seven games in all competitions.
"At the moment they're on a little bit of a run where positive results in terms of wins are not forthcoming," Hughes said.
"But I wouldn't suggest for one moment they are on the wane or on the slide.
"Their goalscoring threat has come through Vardy and Mahrez, so there was always a danger that if they stopped scoring or the chances being created weren't as readily available, then maybe their ability to win games would lessen.
"That seems to be happening at the moment, but I've seen recent games and they look just as threatening as they have done.
"They've still got a real threat and we'll have to play really well against them to get a positive result."
Another significant player for Leicester this term has been defender Huth, who joined from Stoke over the summer on a permanent deal following a loan spell last season.
Huth formed a fine Potters centre-back pairing with Ryan Shawcross over the years, but Hughes insists the German moving on made sense for all parties.
"He's a very good defender and the way Leicester play, it's a perfect situation for him," Hughes said.
"He's a leader as well - I'm sure he's a huge influence, like he was here.
"Unfortunately in his time here (since Hughes was appointed as boss in 2013) for the most part he was injured and when he came back, he struggled to break through.
"He wanted to play and I allowed him to go to Leicester."
Seventh-placed Stoke, now with Philipp Wollscheid as the regular partner for Shawcross, have the fifth-best defensive record in the league at the moment.
And Hughes added: "The partnership between Ryan and Robert was really strong, but the team has evolved slightly and Philipp has formed a different partnership with Ryan that still functions and works well."
Stoke winger Xherdan Shaqiri could make his return against Leicester.
Shaqiri, sidelined by a hamstring injury of late but back in training on Thursday, will be assessed. Hughes is also monitoring a hamstring issue forward Marko Arnautovic has been playing with.
Hughes will definitely still be without Geoff Cameron (ankle) and Shay Given (knee) for what is the first of four away games for the Potters in quick succession, but Stephen Ireland, Marc Muniesa and Phil Bardsley are all now fit for selection.
Source: PAR
