Claudio Ranieri was doing his best on Saturday night to play down Leicester City’s status as Premier League favourites, despite their 1-0 win at Crystal Palace taking his side eight points clear.
“Now we are in the home straight and I want to see my horses, how they run,” Ranieri said after Riyad Mahrez’s first‑half goal secured the points at Selhurst Park. Beyond that, Leicester’s manager continues to insist his team are precarious leaders, happy simply to have their presence in the Europa League closer to being assured by a fourth 1-0 win in five games. “It’s not easy, we are Leicester,” Ranieri said. “We are not a team like Manchester United, Manchester City or Chelsea, five points or eight points clear it would be finished.
“Now we are very close to achieving the Champions League. Our fans are sensing it, that is fantastic. We have to stay calm and concentrate because seven matches are open matches.”
Ranieri is aware of the goodwill towards his team from the public at large as Leicester edge closer to the most unlikely title win since Ipswich in 1962. “Yes, I feel it. A lot of people, also those in the race with us, say: ‘If I don’t win, I hope Leicester can win.’ A lot of people say Leicester play with their heart, the right spirit and try to do something unbelievable.
“Everything is in our hands. We have to do our job and if somebody goes over us, well done, they are the champions. We made a fantastic achievement.”
Tottenham can return Leicester’s advantage to five points by beating Bournemouth at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
