Ranieri: Great Players Need Just One Chance

- Vardy opened the scoring in the first half before Basitan Schweinsteiger levelled 

- The match finished 1-1 with the Foxes now behind league leaders Manchester City on goal difference only 

- Ranieri was pleased with the concentration levels from his side against United 

Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri was thrilled with his team and with Jamie Vardy after a record-breaking afternoon of Barclays Premier League football against Manchester United. 

The sides fought to a 1-1 draw inside King Power Stadium but it was Vardy who stole the headlines after scoring for the 11th Premier League game in succession – a new record. 

Vardy latched onto a Christian Fuchs pass midway through the first half before slotting past David De Gea and taking the record from previous holder Ruud Van Nistelrooy in the process – himself a Manchester United striker. 

However just before the break a Bastian Schweinsteiger header levelled matters in a hard fought game that would end with the scores tied at 1-1 and the Foxes tied with Manchester City at the summit. 

Speaking afterwards, Ranieri told Foxes Player HD: “Our mentality was to try to win. I asked to the players before the match for two things. One, to win the match and two, to help Jamie achieve the record and I’m very happy. 

“It was just one chance but great champions need just one chance. He’s very, very smart, very clever and very cool. 

“I think Louis Van Gaal (Manchester United manager) put three defenders because he was worried about our counter attack. 

“I’m very pleased and very glad because it was a difficult match. But we concentrated very well throughout the match. Of course we conceded a goal from the corner but they are taller than us and we can concede sometimes. What was good was that we scored a goal and created other chances. 

“It was very, very sad [to concede] but it’s OK. That’s football and it’s one point against a great team. I’m very, very pleased with our performance.”