Claudio Ranieri hails Leicester response after Porto victory
Wednesday 28 September 2016 06:49, UK
Claudio Ranieri says he is not surprised by Leicester's early success in the Champions League after they beat Porto 1-0 on Tuesday.
The Foxes made it two wins from two in Group E after Islam Slimani's goal secured victory over the Portuguese side at the King Power Stadium.
The result comes just days after Leicester became the first Premier League defending champions to concede four times in the first half when they were beaten 4-1 by Manchester United.
"I am happy when I see my players play like tonight, with our spirit" said Ranieri. "I recognise this team when they play together, when they play as a team. If we play this way, I am not surprised.
"I am surprised when we concede three times from a corner on Saturday. Then I am surprised.
Trending
- World Darts Championship LIVE! Cross and Chisnall headline evening session
- Amorim questions decision-making from Rashford's camp
- Amorim's Sporting replacement set to be sacked - Portuguese media
- World Darts Championship schedule: Cross headlines Monday's action
- Transfer Centre LIVE! Bayern want Dortmund's English winger Gittens
- Double blow! Sterling out 'for a while' - so will Arsenal sign a winger?
- Usyk vs Fury 2: Fury 'robbed'? What do the stats reveal?
- Liverpool latest: Van Dijk plays down quadruple talk
- Saka out for 'many weeks' with hamstring injury
- Amorim: A lot of people around Rashford making decisions
"I spoke a lot about corners and to maintain a clean sheet and my players tonight were very concentrated, strong and attentive in every situation. It was good for everybody after the bad defeat in Manchester.
"We showed a very good attitude, character and personality during all of the match. Also during the last minutes when Porto tried to equalise, we were very calm, very attentive and closed all of the space."
Porto piled on the pressure in the closing stages but Leicester held firm to secure victory on their home debut in the Champions League.
"I am very happy," added Ranieri. "It's the first (Champions League) match after 132 years for Leicester. Our fans gave us a lot of energy. It's fantastic. All the matches they push behind us.
"It was important to win against Porto because Porto are a very good team, an experienced team with quality players. It was important to score a goal and defend very well."
The only goal of the game came in the 25th minute when Slimani headed home from Riyad Mahrez's cross to score his sixth goal in his last four matches against Porto.
"I was very confident with Slimani because Slimani often scored against Porto when he was a Sporting player," said Ranier. "I spoke with Riyad and with Islam and said: 'Come on guys, make something good tonight.' And they made a pass - assist and goal.
"After we defended very well. We were well organised because Porto played very well with a very good skill of players. But we closed very well all of the space."
Ranieri was also asked about links with the England job after Sam Allardyce's sacking earlier in the evening.
The Italian said: "The bookmakers? You know I don't have a good relationship with the bookmakers. I don't know. Now I am very focused on the victory of tonight."
