‘Dilly ding, dilly dong’ for Ranieri as merry Foxes go for league title

WITH just four matches remaining, Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri finally acknowledged the obvious yesterday and said his unsung side were fighting for the Premier League title and could win it.

Ever since the season started, the Italian has played it straight – talking of avoiding relegation, then achieving points targets and seeing where it might lead – while steering clear of championship discussions.

Despite having 22-goal top-scorer Jamie Vardy suspended for tomorrow’s home game against Swansea City, Ranieri took the opportunity to remind reporters of what his underdogs had already achieved.

“Hey man, we are in Champions League,” exclaimed the Italian. “Dilly ding, dilly dong. Come on. You speak about blah, blah, blah, but we are in Champions League. Come on man, fantastic. Terrific.

“It is a great achievement. Unbelievable. And now we go straight away to try to win the title,” he exclaimed as reporters cheered the long-awaited recognition. “Only this remains.”

Leicester are five points clear of Tottenham Hotspur, whose recent form has been highly impressive, but Ranieri said he had told his players they had it in their hands.

“I talk to my players. Now is the right moment to push,” he said. “I believe. Always I believe. I am a positive man.

“If Tottenham go over (ahead of) us, congratulations. But I prefer to stay five points up.” – Reuters