Leicester City manager, Claudio Ranieri, has revealed that he finally believed they could finish the season as Premier League champions, after their 3-1 win over Manchester City at the Etihad.
The Foxes were only confirmed as champions on Monday, after Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.
But he admits their belief was strengthened on February 6, when Robert Huth scored twice and Riyad Mahrez also netted, as they stunned City.
He pinpointed a 3-1 win at Manchester City on February 6 as being crucial after Robert Huth scored twice and Riyad Mahrez once in a devastating counter-attacking display.
Ranieri said: “I love the English spirit. When I was a player I was an Englishman, I was fighting and you had to kill me if you wanted to win.
“I said we’d maintain the spirit and I brought the Italian tactics.
“For me it was important to put in their mind the Italian tactics.
“I realised we were so fast on the counter-attack – so good – so I told them we are like the RAF, we are so fast and they believed in this.
“It was important that the first matches you win because the confidence and everything was good.
“But I was so satisfied when we won at Manchester City. It was a fantastic performance away from home, unbelievable.
“When we won there 3-1, my players believed: ‘Maybe we can win, maybe we can fight until the end and believe something fantastic could happen’.”
The 64-year-old and his players will lift the Premier League trophy on Saturday, after their final home match against Everton.
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