Manager Claudio Ranieri was again a happy man at the full time whistle, and just as he had praise for the spirit of Everton and how difficult they made the game up at Goodison Park for us, he had to give more credit to Leicester for our own spirit and for seeing the game out with another victory.
Speaking to lcfc.com a delighted Italian explained.
‘I`m so pleased because after 30 years, Leicester have won at Goodison Park. It was a difficult match – very difficult because Everton are a very good team, but our performance was magnificent because we worked so hard during the whole match. I`m very pleased with our players. In the first half, maybe we were a little nervous when we had the ball. It wasn`t easy, but in the second half we played much better. I said to continue to play in the same way in the second half, but to be a little more calm and play football on the floor because we made too many long passes and it was difficult for Vardy and Okazaki to retrieve the ball. I`m very pleased because our performance was fantastic. Everton have very good players and a good manager. They move the ball so quickly and they wanted to create the space. We closed all the space and Kasper Schmeichel made just one or two saves – one of which was very good.’
The gaffer also once more had praise for the travelling fans for the noise they made during the game.
‘I`m very happy. I want to say to our fans thank you because they came here and they were fantastic. I also want to say to them and their families Merry Christmas and thank you for supporting us.’
With Leicester now top for Christmas guaranteed with a ten game unbeaten run, Ranieri also said that despite being five points clear at the top of the table it was still about 40 points for him and about managing expectations this year because the club are doing phenomenally well.
‘Two more points,’ said a smiling gaffer.
‘Look, I am very honest. If today is at the end of April and we`re still there, I think about the title. Two matches to go, I think of the title. Now, I enjoy.’
Easy to see why he’d enjoy given the position in the table, free scoring Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez and their personal records this year, plenty of club records to and the club aren’t shy of listing them.
Consecutive games without defeat.
Consecutive games scored in.
Consecutive away games scoring three or more goals.
Not least a more surprising one of the first club in Premier League history to be bottom one Christmas and top the next.
‘That`s football. The football is crazy. But if it`s crazy in this way, I am very happy.’
Going back to Everton, he went on to say.
‘Today was a difficult, difficult match. Everton are a good team, they move the ball so quickly and we had to be concentrated to make sure we didn`t leave them much space. In the first half, we didn`t react well when we got the ball. In the second half it was much better. I asked them to be more calm, confident and to play on the floor, not the long ball every time because it was difficult to control today. We needed to be fast, but calm. It was a good performance in a defensive way because Everton move the ball very fast from the left and the right and try to cross, create chances and create space. I`m very pleased because I watched the match and I felt Everton is a great team.’
With two enforced changes, plus the reintroduction of Shinji Okazaki to the line up, the players coming into the side also took praise.
‘Wasilewski, King and Okazaki made a very good performance, but so did everybody. I just mention them because they are new and they play very well. I watched Okazaki during the training session, he was smart and I wanted to put him in today to do something better with our speed in front. He won the penalty, he scored a goal and was always a threat.’
Vital Leicester on:
Vital Leicester on:
