Ranieri: The Best Spirit I've Known

- The manager speaks after a 3-1 Barclays Premier League win over Manchester City at Etihad Stadium 

- A Robert Huth brace and a Riyad Mahrez strike help send the Foxes six points clear at the top of the league 

- Ranieri says his side are playing without pressure 

Goals from Robert Huth either side of a Riyad Mahrez strike gave City a simply stunning 3-1 win over Manuel Pellegrini’s men at Etihad Stadium, and it was a performance to remember. 

Before Sergio Aguero’s late consolation, the hosts looked stunned as City went 3-0 up playing the kind of football that they so often have this season. 

Both Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal can close the gap, but with the Foxes playing without pressure, only enjoyment, Ranieri is keen for them just to continue what they’re doing. 

“The spirit is fantastic but I’ve said this from my first moment here in Leicester,” said Ranieri. “There is a fantastic dressing room and on the pitch they help each other. They fight for each other and that is fantastic. 

“We play with 11 on the pitch, every time. It’s not easy. It’s the best spirit I remember in my career, as well as when I was a footballer.” 

Manchester City were heavy favourites going into the clash with the Foxes and could have leapfrogged them in the table with a victory. Ranieri was the first to admit that the victory required his team to be at their very best. 

He added: “It was a good performance for us but difficult because when you play against a team like City with their fantastic players it’s not easy. 

“We were very concentrated though and we wanted to try to win without pressure. Just enjoy the match, but try to do our best. I think the first goal was very good for our confidence. Then we closed all the space because we played very concentrated and determined the entire match. 

“We know it’s a crazy league. We have to try in this crazy league but there are some big teams who have to win. We enjoy of course and we want to fight, but without pressure. For us it’s important to play and continue in this way because it’s a strange league. 

“We are alive and we want to fight. We go to Arsenal next and I hope we will concentrate as well as we have in the last two matches and continue our dream.”