Ranieri: We Worked So Hard

- Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a late winner after Jamie Vardy had cancelled out Jesse Lingard’s opener 

- The manager says his players weren’t at 100 per cent but gave everything 

- Ranieri pleased with an improved second half display from his side

Claudio Ranieri could not fault the work ethic of his players after a narrow defeat to Manchester United in the FA Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday. 

Jamie Vardy had cancelled out Jesse Lingard’s opening goal with the Foxes looking comfortable going into the closing stages, but United no.9 Zlatan Ibrahimovic headed Antonio Valencia’s cross in off the post to win it late on. 

Despite the result, the Foxes impressed at Wembley, particularly in the second half where they continually put Jose Mourinho’s FA Cup winners under pressure, with Vardy showing great sharpness to capitalise on a Marouane Fellaini error shortly after the break. 

Afterwards, the manager insisted that his side have yet to hit full flow but was delighted to see them put in the maximum effort in front of a huge following of Foxes fans. 

“I’m very pleased with our performance,” Ranieri told LCFC TV. “I made my congratulations to my players. We aren’t ready yet to play as we did last season but we played well, especially in the second half. 

“Maybe in the first half we were a little more shy because it was so hot and difficult to run. In the second half we pushed a lot and we tried to score. We did and I think at the minimum we deserved to arrive at the penalty shootout. 

“I’m very proud and I’m very happy because we worked so hard. I told the players that we aren’t ready yet, but give me 120 per cent. Help each other and run for your team-mates. They did this and I’m very pleased. 

“For our fans, when they watch the players fight until the end, they are happy. They understand that not always we can win, but they’ll always watch the squad fight until the end.”