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Claudio Ranieri says Leicester must win Premier League to be remembered

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Claudio Ranieri dismissed the idea that Leicester's push for the Premier League title is down to luck, in another entertaining media conference

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri says that, despite their incredible Premier League campaign, his team has not accomplished anything noteworthy yet.

And the experienced Italian boss says his Foxes team need to fight hard to make sure their excellent work so far does not go to waste.

Ahead of the Super Sunday clash at home to West Ham, live on Sky Sports, Leicester find themselves seven points clear at the top of the table, with just five games left, meaning three more wins will be enough to secure the title.

And Ranieri's emotional reaction to last weekend's crucial 2-0 victory at Sunderland suggested that he was starting to appreciate the scale of his team's potential accomplishment.

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However, Ranieri said: "I was stable but, when you see so many old ladies coming out for Leicester, it's unbelievable and, in that moment, I thought about them and I was so happy for them.

"I am happy when the people following us are happy and my eyes were very shiny, but I didn't cry!

"I don't realise yet what we are doing as a team, and I want to do something more. We didn't do anything yet.

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Kasper Schmeichel and Jamie Vardy of Leicester City celebrate
Image: Leicester are three wins from Premier League title glory

"We have to fight, we have achieved nothing yet.

"Football is very strange. If you were not here in Leicester but maybe at Chelsea or United, with seven points more than others, you would say 'it is finished'.

"You don't think this at the moment. Why? Because we are Leicester. We have to fight and be very strong.

"We've made a good story but, to make something you will remember in 30 or 40 years, we have to win."

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri looks on prior to the Premier League match against Crystal Palace
Image: Ranieri says Leicester still have work to do

Leicester guaranteed a top-four finish last week, assuring themselves of a Champions League place, but Ranieri does not consider them truly qualified until they are certain of starting in the group stages, rather than playing a qualifier.

"It is two matches and two matches is not the Champions League, I want to play six," he said. "I don't think there is the (Champions League) music.I love the music!

"I think it will be a fantastic achievement. From the dream arrives the reality, but wait first."

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The race for the Premier League title is hotting up and, from Saturday, Sky Sports will be showing seven live games in just six days

Ranieri also expressed his delight at the PFA Player of the Year nominations for Leicester stars Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and N'Golo Kante.

"I am very proud because they deserve it," he said. "They are doing a fantastic performance in every match and I hope one of them can win.

"They are three sons for me. If one son wins, I am very happy."

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