Claudio: Fate Is In Our Own Hands

- Leicester beat Crystal Palace to move eight points clear at the top of the Premier League
- Tottenham could close the gap to five if they beat Bournemouth on Sunday
- Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri tells players to focus on their own results
- Ranieri says Leicester are an unknown quantity competing at this level
His relentless side may have just opened an eight-point lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League, but Claudio Ranieri was in no mood to admire the view.
A first-half goal from Riyad Mahrez – the Algerian’s 16th of a stellar season – was enough to secure a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace - a fourth in five games for Ranieri’s men, who extended their advantage over second-placed Tottenham ahead of the London club’s game against Bournemouth on Sunday.
The question of whether Spurs could respond to City widening the gap was pitched frequently to Ranieri during his post-match media engagements at Selhurst Park, as pundits sought to make sense of a season that continues to defy all rational expectations.
But the Italian says the strength of Leicester’s position means they only have to think about their own results in their pursuit of glory.
“I don’t know whether it’s important or not,” he said in the post-match press conference, respectfully dismissing the question of whether the win was made more significant by their nearest rivals playing a day later.
“I tell to the players that everything is in our hands. We have to push. It’s not important what the others do.
“Nobody is going to help us, that’s normal, that’s sport. Then we have to do our job. If someone goes over us, well done to them. If not, we continue to fight.”
Ranieri is sincere in his cautionary words. An experienced manager that has fought from these positions in four of the major leagues across Europe, Leicester’s likeable manager has been here many times before.
Unlike his team. Which Ranieri feels is a crucial factor in forecasting the final seven games of the campaign.
“There are seven matches to go, but it’s not easy for us. We’re Leicester. We’re not a team like Manchester City or Chelsea, five points or eight points clear – that would be finished.
“For us, we have to fight, every match. Now, our fans are singing and that’s fantastic, but we have to stay calm and concentrated because the seven matches will be open matches.
“Fans (of other clubs) that aren’t in the race with us say, if they don’t win, they want Leicester to win. People say Leicester play with heart, with the right spirit to do something unbelievable. But we have to stay focused on our job.
“Some time ago, I said we were at the last turn. Now we’re in the final straight and I want to see how my horses can run!”