Monday, February 13, 2017

Claudio Ranieri admits loyalty to Leicester champions may cost him

Claudio Ranieri (left) says he may be too loyal to the likes of Jamie Vardy
Claudio Ranieri (left) says he may be too loyal to the likes of Jamie Vardy

Claudio Ranieri admits he may be too loyal to the likes of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, but says he is the right man for Leicester City.

The Premier League champions suffered their fifth defeat in a row when they lost 2-0 to fellow relegation battlers Swansea at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday.

Swansea moved four points clear of the drop __with the win while Leicester now sit just one point above 18th-placed Hull, but Ranieri is adamant he can steer the Foxes away from danger.

Highlights of Swansea
Highlights of Swansea's 2-0 win over Leicester on Saturday

"Yes, I think I am still the right man for the job," said the 65-year-old Italian. "I always question myself but I always say 'come on, we can do something good'.

"I think the strength of the man is to have the right balance. Not to be so high when you win; not to be so down when you lose.

Martin Olsson scored Swansea
Martin Olsson scored Swansea's second goal on Sunday

"You can remember what we did last season but you need to stay __with your feet on the ground and say we have to react together.

"I don't think the players have lost belief. When I listen to them speaking, they want to react and do something better. That is important because I am confident when I listen to these words.

"But we have to find a solution soon."

Is Ranieri out of answers?

Claudio Ranieri got everything right last season but he is struggling to find the answers now

Ranieri's starting line-up featured a number of the core players that guided Leicester to the Premier League crown last season, but they failed to make an impact as the Foxes went two goals down inside the first half, leading to Marc Albrighton and Christian Fuchs being withdrawn at the break.

Vardy and Mahrez had 32 top-flight goals between them at this stage in the 2015-16 campaign but, after once again failing to find the net against Swansea, the pair have a combined total of just eight goals this time around.

Jamie Vardy (centre) shows his frustration
Jamie Vardy (centre) shows his frustration

"I could be (too loyal), could be," Ranieri said of the players that contributed to Leicester's Premier League success last season.

"It is difficult when you achieve something so good, you want to give them one chance, two chances, three chances. Maybe now, it is too much.

"Of course I must change something because it is not possible to continue in this way."