Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri refuses to accept favourites tag
Saturday 6 February 2016 21:50, UK
Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri refused to accept his team were now title favourites after their sensational 3-1 win at Manchester City.
The surprise Premier League leaders opened up a six-point lead over Manuel Pellegrini's men - the side many expect to take the crown - with a near-perfect display at the Etihad Stadium.
Some bookmakers immediately made Leicester - 5,000/1 outsiders at the start of the season - the new favourites for the title.
But Ranieri, aware he was the one-time favourite in the 'sack race', said: "I don't believe the bookmakers. At the beginning of the season the bookmakers said, 'sack Ranieri'. I hope one time they are right!"
Leicester were superb from the outset, taking a third-minute lead with the first of Robert Huth's two goals and constantly troubling their illustrious hosts on the counter-attack.
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With City failing to break down their stubborn defence, Riyad Mahrez doubled the lead with a fine strike early in the second half and Huth sent the visiting fans into dreamland on the hour.
Ranieri said: "It was a good performance. Difficult, because when you're playing against a team like City, players with fantastic quality, it's not easy but we concentrated very much.
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"We wanted to try to win, without pressure, just enjoy the match, and try to do our best. I think the first goal was very good for our confidence and then we closed all the space."
Leicester may now be in pole position but they face another tough test against Arsenal next week and Ranieri is refusing to think about winning the title.
He said: "This season is a crazy league, I don't know why. I don't think about if we win the league, I don't want to think about it.
"My mind goes over the next seven days - Arsenal, another tough match, other fantastic players, another fantastic stadium.
"But we're alive and we want to fight. I hope we concentrate as well as in these last matches to continue our dream."
