Ranieri: Everything is wrong with Leicester City’s title defence
Claudio Ranieri admits he is scratching his head to explain Leicester’s current predicament as the current Premier League champions’ dramatic U-turn in fortunes continues.
Last season the Foxes wrote their names into the history books with a run to the title which sent shockwaves through the football world.
But the form which brought them the trophy has eluded them this time around, with Saturday’s defeat to Sunderland leaving them 15th in the table, just two points above the relegation zone.
(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Their return of 13 points after 14 games is also the worst record of any defending Premier League champions.
And while Leicester are into the knockout stages of the Champions League at the first time of asking, Ranieri admits his team’s league form is quickly turning into a major concern.
“It is difficult to say what we miss,” said the Italian. “We miss everything.
“I think everything last season was right, starting with the luck. This season everything is wrong, but we must continue to work hard and maintain the right balance, and believe in ourselves.
“The battle is long but that is the football, that is sport. There are good moments and bad moments. In the bad moment we must stay together.
“I think we play at the same level, in the Premier League and Champions League, but in the Premier League the first mistake or the first opportunity to score the opponent scores a goal, and we miss chances.
“In Champions League, it is different. Maybe the opponent misses a chance and we score a goal. It is difficult to explain but it is the reality. Our strength and our effort is the same.”
