Claudio Ranieri: "I hope I am nominated for manager of the month every time - without winning it!"
Foxes boss missed out on the award to Manchester City's Manuel Pellegrini
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has congratulated Manuel Pellegrini on pipping him to the Barclays Premier League manager of the month award for August.
The new Foxes boss has enjoyed an unbeaten start to life in the East Midlands, picking up eight points from a possible 12, but was beaten to the prize by his Manchester City counterpart.
Ranieri, whose side face Aston Villa on Sunday, hopes to be nominated again, but wants to avoid the dreaded curse which so often sees winning managers suffer defeat in their following match.
He said: "I am very happy, I want to congratulate Manuel Pellegrini for winning. I would like to be nominated every month – without winning. That means Leicester stay in a very high position."
Following victories over Sunderland and West Ham United, the former Chelsea manager insists that consecutive draws with Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth haven't dampened spirits at the King Power Stadium.
"It is important to restart in the Premier League again because there was a break. I saw the players today [Friday] after ten days and now it is important to recharge the group.
"It is important to start with the right mentality, we start with zero points in the Premier League on Sunday. I know the Aston Villa matches are very tough but all the matches are tough."
While losing the majority of his squad to international breaks may have been a regular occurrence at his former clubs, including Roma and Inter Milan, it is a sign of Leicester's steady improvement that they lost ten first-team members last week.
Jamie Vardy started for newly-qualified England in the 6-0 demolition of San Marino last Saturday while Christian Fuchs also helped secure Austria's spot at Euro 2016 with a 4-1 win against Sweden.
The Italian continued: "Everybody has come back in very good condition. Some of them are very healthy, Vardy played the match and secured qualification, Fuchs too.
"[Andy] King was very close with Wales, Kasper [Schmeichel] got a clean sheet for Denmark, [Shinji] Okazaki scored twice for Japan. I am very happy."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments