Ranieri Lauds Stoke Victory

- The victory sent Leicester City to the top of the Barclays Premier League ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Chelsea on Sunday 

- Danny Drinkwater, Jamie Vardy and Leonardo Ulloa were on the scoresheet for City 

- Ranieri delighted for Drinkwater to score his first Premier League goal 

Claudio Ranieri could find little fault with his Leicester City side after a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Stoke City to send them to the top of the Barclays Premier League table. 

Danny Drinkwater, Jamie Vardy and Leonardo Ulloa were among the goals at King Power Stadium but it was an impressive display at both ends of the pitch – with the City back line shutting out a Stoke attack brimming with talent. 

Many pundits had tipped the visitors to prevail against Ranieri’s Foxes, but they were given little opportunity to test Kasper Schmeichel as each of City’s players performed their duties impeccably. 

The win sent the Foxes, at least temporarily, three points clear at the top of the Premier League, and as expected, the manager was a happy man. 

“Yes I’m very pleased because Stoke City are such a strong team,” Ranieri told Foxes Player HD. “They are tall and tough but we won against this team and I’m very, very pleased. 

“We scored at the right moment in the first half. It was our first goal outside of the box and a first goal for Drinkwater. It was amazing and I’m very happy and very pleased with him. The second half we continued to press. 

"Today I told the players, 'this is our match'. We must win and we must win because it’s very important to go into the little break with three points and at the top of the league as now comes a strong February with three unbelievable matches, so it’s important to be ready.” 

Drinkwater’s first Premier League strike came just minutes before half time and arrived on his 150th league appearance for the Club. 

Ranieri added: “It’s important because people say the goals are scored by only [Riyad] Mahrez and Vardy. No, there are so many players that can score. Robert Huth and N’Golo Kante have scored and now it’s important that the others score a goal. 

“Everything is an extra motivation because what they are doing is something extraordinary and nobody can believe what Leicester are doing. 

“It’s important to continue and we are in good condition. It’s okay. It’s not possible to win and score in all the matches, but it’s important that when you can’t win to take a point and don’t lose. 

“The situation is fantastic. Now we are top of the league, it’s not important how other teams do. For us it’s important to be top of the league, to achieve three points and to be strong.”