Premier League Magic Captivates Ranieri

- Claudio Ranieri says unpredictable start has been good for the Premier League
- Leicester are fifth in the table after matchweek 10
- The Foxes have lost just once this term and beat Crystal Palace on Saturday
- Ranieri thanks his staff for aiding his side’s successful start
Claudio Ranieri knew the Barclays Premier League had changed when he ended his 11-year absence from the English game to take over at Leicester City.
And the Italian feels the unpredictability of this year’s competition is re-energising its audience.
At the end of matchweek 10, the Foxes are one of the surprise packages currently upsetting the established order. Ranieri’s side sit fifth in the table on 19 points after just one defeat in our opening 10 games, trumped only in the underdog stakes by third-placed West Ham United.
Elsewhere, the bottom three places are occupied by established top-flight clubs, defying the predictions of many pundits that tipped the promoted clubs to struggle. Meanwhile champions Chelsea, Ranieri’s former club, are 15th having lost half of their opening 10 games.
It’s been a start to the campaign to make the fans of every club dream, but Ranieri remains pragmatic about City’s ambitions.
“Every match is difficult in the Premier League,” he said.
“This year, you don’t know what’s going to happen on the pitch. That’s good for all the fans who love this sport.
“For us, we must achieve 40 points to be safe. After that, we’ll see. For now, 40 points, 21 more.”
The opening months of the season have been an impressive return to the Premier League for Ranieri, whose knowledge and experience in the game have helped a squad with momentum build on an amazing finish to the previous campaign.
And the City boss thanked the staff he inherited on his arrival in Leicester for aiding a seamless transition.
“At the beginning I was curious to see how my players understood me and how I understood them,” he said.
“I must say thank you to all the English staff because they support me, they help me to know everything about the club, to choose and to put the players in the right positions.
“We play like a team, that’s what makes me happy.”