Claudio Ranieri has claimed Leicester City s main aim next season is Premier League survival, not retaining their title.
Leicester defied all expectations to win the English top flight for the first time in their history in 2015-16, Ranieri s team eventually finishing some 10 points clear of second-placed Arsenal.
That means the Foxes will face the rigours of Champions League football next term, and Ranieri is keen to temper expectations that another tilt at the title will be on the cards especially given the managerial changes taking place at the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United.
Next season will be another fantastic season, because [Pep] Guardiola arrives, [Antonio] Conte and Jose [Mourinho], Ranieri said, in quotes reported by the Mirro…
Edin Dzeko says Premier League title favourites Manchester City will give 200 per cent in their remaining two games of the season.
Liverpool s 3-3 draw at Crystal Palace on Monday put City firmly in the driving seat to regain their crown and a win over Aston Villa on Wednesday would see them go two points clear at the top.
Dzeko scored in stoppage time as City claimed the title in dramatic circumstances against QPR in 2012 and insists the players have learned the lessons from that thrilling final day.
We ll try to give everything and I think we ve done an amazing job, the striker is quoted as saying in The Sun. After winning at Goodison on Saturday (3-2 against Everton), we go into the last two home games against Villa and West Ham, not at 100 per cent, at 200 per cent…
Xavi Hernandez believes Barcelona have what it takes to overcome defensive absentees in their Copa de Rey final against Athletic Bilbao.
Barca will be without fullbacks Eric Abidal and Dani Alves for the match at Estadio Vicente Calderon, while club captain and centre-back Carles Puyol is also missing.
Argentina international Javier Mascherano, who joined the club in 2010 as a midfielder, is likely to find himself filling in again at the back, while youth team graduate Martin Montoya is another fringe player who may be called upon.
We are missing important players, Xavi said.
Puyol s injury is important, Abidal we all know, and also Dani s.
We are very sensitive (vulnerable) now that we don t have our regulars in defence. But the rest are pre…