Leicester City vs Swansea City reaction: Claudio Ranieri backs Foxes to win title with 'heart and soul'
Italian boss stresses that Spurs will win all of their remaining matches but nonetheless backed his side to secure the title
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Your support makes all the difference.Claudio Ranieri has backed Leicester City to win the Premier League title with “heart and soul” after cranking up the pressure on Tottenham by opening up an eight point gap at the summit.
Ranieri's side went into yesterday's game at home to Swansea City having dropped points to West Ham United a week ago in a game which their talismanic top scorer Jamie Vardy was sent off. Vardy's absence added to the pressure but Leicester responded with a convincing 4-0 victory.
Spurs face West Bromwich Albion at White Hart Lane tonight but Leicester need just five points to be crowned champions. Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton strikes came either side of a Leonardo Ulloa double.
Ahead of the trip to Manchester United next Sunday, Ranieri said: “Our fans maybe woke up from the dream [this week] and said ‘come on’. We have only one match left at home and they want to push with their hearts. We are ready to fight until the end.
“Why we must be nervous? We enjoyed all the season. We are doing a fantastic season, we have achieved a lot. Now there are only three matches, we know they are very important for our history but for this reason we give everything. We play with our hearts and it's difficult to beat those who play with the heart and soul.”
After the largest of 22 victories this season, Ranieri called upon his squad to concentrate on the job in hand and ignore outside influences.
“I am optimistic, I am positive,” the Italian added, before being rushed away to the PFA Player of the Year awards ceremony in London. “I know it is not easy because in my mind Tottenham will win all their matches and we will need all five points. Three matches, two away and one at home. We have to be concentrated.”
Meanwhile, Francesco Guidolin, the Swansea manager, a friend of Ranieri, said: “Leicester deserve to win the title because this is a very strong team. This is a dream for Leicester, a fantastic situation, fantastic atmosphere, I am very happy for him.”
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