Craig Shakespeare disagrees with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger's remarks about Leicester

By Mark Crellin

Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare disagrees with Arsene Wenger's claim that Chelsea's tactics are "bad" for football

Craig Shakespeare disagrees with Arsene Wenger's contention that title wins for Leicester and potentially Chelsea may not be good for football.

The Foxes caused a sensation when they won the title last year and they are set to be succeeded by Chelsea, who will clinch the title if they win at West Brom on Friday.

However, Arsenal boss Wenger said Leicester and Chelsea are not teams who play with "big possession" and added that "I still think sport has to encourage initiative and, if it rewards too much teams who don't take initiative, then we have to rethink the whole process".

But Shakespeare, who has taken over from title-winning boss Claudio Ranieri at Leicester, thinks Wenger's comments were wide of the mark.

When they were put to him at his Thursday press conference, he said: "I disagree, I think you have to be adaptable in football.

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Image: Arsene Wenger says sport should "encourage initiative"

"I would love to play pretty attacking football and play through the thirds, but sometimes you have to be adaptable and I think Atletico Madrid at home (a gallant 1-1 draw, as Leicester bowed out of the Champions League) is a prime example of that."

"I think players understand that, and fans understand that

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"Of course they want to see attractive football and I would like to see attractive football but, ultimately, it is about getting results in the industry as well."

Shakespeare also downplayed the chances of key forward Riyad Mahrez leaving Leicester in the summer.

Mahrez has been linked with some of Europe's biggest clubs but Shakespeare says he is not aware of any agreement to sell the Algerian and thinks the player is happy where he is.

"I am not aware of any gentleman's agreement," said Shakespeare.

"If they are in place, we need to be aware of it.

Image: Shakespeare says Riyad Mahrez is happy at Leicester

"Obviously, as we get towards the end of the season, the club will talk to the players involved.

"He was the same Riyad today - smiling, enjoying training.

"As far as I'm concerned, until told otherwise, he is under long-term contract here and happy here."

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