Wednesday, April 5, 2017

‘Craig Shakespeare will have a statue alongside Claudio Ranieri if Leicester progress in Champions League’, says Kevin Phillips

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Kevin Phillips has told talkSPORT Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare should get a statue next to Claudio Ranieri if the Foxes beat Atletico Madrid to progress in the Champions League.

The Foxes travel to Spain next Wednesday for the first leg of their quarter-final tie with the Spanish giants.

Last season’s surprise English champions __have beaten the odds again just to get this far in Europe, especially considering their terrible domestic form earlier this season.

But Shakespeare has rejuvenated the team since taking over from the axed Ranieri - he has broken records to become the first English boss to win his first five Premier League games in charge, and also helped see off Sevilla to book the club’s place in the Champions League last-eight.

And if the underdogs emerge victorious again, former coach and striker Phillips believes Shakespeare should be immortalised with the Premier League-winning boss at the King Power Stadium.

Speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, Phillips said: “It’s no surprise to me that he’s galvanised the squad and got them playing well.

“Craig is a wonderful guy, I’ve known him for many years, he lives just down the road from me and I’m delighted to see him being successful.

“It’s great to see the mini revival of the Premier League champions and I can’t wait for the Champions League.

“If they can progress through that, and I know it’ll be difficult, he’ll have a statue alongside Ranieri at Leicester in years to come.”

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