Brugge vs Leicester: Claudio Ranieri hails Riyad Mahrez as playmaker steps up on the big stage
The Algeria international scored twice, one from a free-kick and one from the penalty spot, to seal a memorable three points for the Foxes
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Your support makes all the difference.Claudio Ranieri credited the Champions League anthem with waking Riyad Mahrez from his form slump after the Algerian scored twice to inspire Leicester City to an emphatic Group G victory against Club Brugge.
Leicester, making their first appearance in the Champions League, cruised to a 3-0 victory against the Belgian champions with Mahrez scoring a free-kick and penalty after Marc Albrighton’s fifth minute opener.
It was an impressive performance by the Premier League champions in Flanders, who face group favourites FC Porto in two weeks’ time at the King Power Stadium,.
But Ranieri admitted that the pre-match Champions League music inspired Mahrez and his Leicester team-mates into action
"I said to the players, when you hear the Champions League music, it charges the battery and makes you fight,” Ranieri said. “Maybe the music woke him (Mahrez) up!
“Maybe he’s tired of dilly-ding dilly dong and the Champions League music woke him. I liked him, he covered the zone and worked very hard.”
Having started the season slowly following his individual success in being crowned PFA Player of the Year last season, Mahrez returned to form with two goals in the Jan Breydel Stadion.
But having had a penalty saved against Swansea City recently, Ranieri admitted he was ready to get tough with Mahrez had he missed from the spot after Jamie Vardy had been fouled to earn a Leicester penalty.
“If he hadn’t scored, I’d take his neck and crush his neck,” Ranieri joked. “But he took the responsibility.
“I tried to say (Islam) Slimani because he’s a penalty scorer, but Mahrez took the responsibility and scored. He was a lucky man!”
With Porto being held by FC Copenhagen in Portugal, Leicester sit on top of their group ahead of the encounter with the 2004 Champions League winners later this month.
Their results against Porto and Copenhagen are likely to decide the outcome of their Champions League group campaign, with Brugge unlikely to contest qualification.
But Ranieri insists that ensuring Leicester have European football in the new year, whether it be in the Champions League or Europa League, is the only goal.
“I said from the beginning that the Champions League will be an experience for us,” he said. “We hope to get through and play again, but if not, we want to get in the Europa League – that’s the target.
If he hadn’t scored, I’d take his neck and crush his neck!
“We have just played the first match. There are another five, so stay calm because it’s a big test against everybody.
“With Rostov, we are the only two teams who have never played in the Champions League.
“It is difficult for us against teams with the experience of Brugge, Copenhagen and Porto. “We have taken confidence, but now must stay calm.”
Albrighton, meanwhile, can now claim the distinction of scoring Leicester’s first Champions League goal – an achievement the former Aston Villa midfielder insists he dreamt about.
"To score the goal was an unbelievable feeling,” Albrighton said. “It was just how I'd seen it in my dreams."
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