Leicester City

Claudio Ranieri: 'Leicester City's priority is to remain in top flight'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 25 May 2016

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri insists that the Premier League champions will be focused on achieving top-flight survival next season.

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has said that his team will remain as underdogs next season despite winning the Premier League title.

The Foxes shocked the sporting world by winning the top-flight crown by 10 points, an achievement which also secured qualification for the Champions League for the first time in the club's history.

However, with the managerial upheaval elsewhere, Ranieri expects the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea to make improved bids at the top of the standings during the next campaign.

The Italian told The Mirror: "Next season will be another fantastic season, because [Pep] Guardiola arrives, [Antonio] Conte and Jose [Mourinho]. It will be a very tough and good season.

"Can we beat them? We can fight, but we're underdogs. The fairy tale happened once and we won. We want to defend our title, of course, but for us it's very important to stay in the Premier League.

"Our playing won't change. Yes, we go into it as champions but I want them to continue to have the right attitude and I can accept all the results."

Leicester lost just three of their 38 league fixtures on the way to claiming the title.