Ranieri Calls For Cup Focus

- The City boss wants his side to focus on their Emirates FA Cup Third Round replay against Tottenham Hotspur at King Power Stadium 

- A win against Tottenham could provide momentum for City’s ‘crazy’ Barclays Premier League campaign, according to Ranieri 

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has challenged his players to put Saturday’s frustrating draw against Aston Villa behind them by producing a positive performance against Tottenham Hotspur. 

Striker Shinji Okazaki gave his side the lead in the first period at Villa Park before City were awarded a penalty after Aly Cissokho was penalised for handball. 

But Riyad Mahrez saw his spot kick saved by Villa stopper Mark Bunn and the Barclays Premier League’s bottom club eventually went on to earn a point following Rudy Gestede’s deflected equaliser. 

It is not a game Ranieri and his players will dwell on – playing Tottenham at King Power Stadium on Wednesday evening is the only thing on their minds, according to the City boss. 

Ranieri said: “I already forgot it (the 1-1 draw at Villa) because we are doing a very great season. A lot of people think we lost two points but that is football. 

“During a season you can take some points that maybe you didn’t expect. I remember times when we were 2-0 down and won the match. 

“But sometimes it can also happen that you miss a penalty and lose or draw the match in a bad way. But that is football and it’s okay. Now we are focused on the cup. 

“I think our fans also are thinking we are doing something nobody can dream [of] but now we want to fight until the end. 

“For me it is important now after a good performance at Tottenham how we respond and our mentality and strength. We start very well and for me this is another good step for my ideas about football.” 

A win against Tottenham could provide momentum heading into Saturday’s Premier League clash with Stoke City. A positive result could contribute further to what Ranieri believes has been a ‘crazy’ season. 

He added: “It is important we don’t lose and keep moving the table. Sometimes you move it by one point and sometimes by three points, but it is important to take a point. 

“When I say it is a crazy league because if it was a normal league Leicester were not at the top. The other bigger teams would be there. Now it is a crazy league and we want to fight in this crazy league.”