In the shorter term Leicester attempt to preserve a five-point lead at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, and Ranieri tried to shift the spotlight back on to Arsenal. “Arsenal – a big pressure, because Arsène [Wenger] spends a lot of money every year,” Ranieri said. “Tell me why we have pressure. Tell me why I must feel pressure? We want to dream with our fans. Nobody wake us up, please.
Wenger’s attempt to suggest a bigger gap between fixtures would add to the psychological pressure on Leicester was cuffed away. “We can go to the beach, do some swimming, enjoy the sun,” Ranieri said.
He also revealed that fans of other clubs stopped him in the street to say they hoped his team could hang on at the top. “They say: 'It’s fantastic what you’re doing. If we can’t win the title, I hope you can.’ All the fans are saying this. It’s nice.”
Ranieri thinks Leicester are flying so high partly because the more established names are under-performing: “A little team is fighting [for the title]. Why? Because a lot of the big teams aren’t in the right position. I don’t know why. Maybe because they are thinking about the European Cup [Champions League]. The big teams who are spending a lot of money aren’t in the normal position. We aren’t in the normal position.”
Earlier in the day Wenger reminded his Leicester counterpart that he had never lost to him in league football. At the King Power Stadium, Ranieri was under the impression Wenger was referring to all competitions.
“The last time I met him I beat him 2-1 in the Champions League [quarter-final, on 6 April 2004],” Ranieri said. “Wayne Bridge scored the second goal. I remember what I want to remember.”
Ranieri scanned a packed press conference and said: “If Leicester is in the lead it means there’s no easy match in the Premier League and I think it’s a very interesting Premier League so far. Look how many journalists are here. Why? It’s a great story. There’s no pressure. Let’s enjoy.”
- Telegraph