Claudio Ranieri: Leicester on the verge of ‘something special’

Claudio Ranieri says his Leicester side are on the verge of “something special” but warned they cannot take their foot off the gas in Denmark tonight.

Victory in Copenhagen will seal qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League. The Foxes are making their debut among the European elite and top Group G, five points clear with nine points.

The Italian warns they must not take qualification for granted. He said: “I understand everybody wants to win but for us it’s important to have everything in our hands. We can write a new chapter of the Leicester story but maybe it’s not [tonight]. It’s important to concentrate because Copenhagen are well-organised. I respect them a lot.

“We are very close to achieving something special.”

Islam Slimani missed Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Tottenham with a groin injury and will not be risked while Ahmed Musa is expected to be fit despite taking a knock scoring the Foxes’ second-half equaliser in that game.

Ranieri said: “Slimani is not ready. I don’t want to risk him. The physio told me, ‘He is OK but be careful’. Why use a player for one match and lose him for one month?”

Ranieri has remained relaxed ahead of the trip to Denmark and spent Monday night serving sweets to trick-or-treaters at his Leicester home.

Leicester midfielder Andy King is hoping the Foxes can become real heroes in Copenhagen tonight after last year’s fancy dress party in the Danish capital.

The squad headed to Copenhagen for their Christmas do last December, with King, Danny Drinkwater, Matty James, and Ben Hamer dressing up as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Shinji Okazaki was Bananaman while Jamie Vardy was the White Power Ranger. Robert Huth was Batman.

“We had a great weekend. That sort of sums up the team spirit we’ve got in the camp,” said King.

“We all came away for the Christmas party, we had had a great time and saw bits of the city. But we’re here for work now and hopefully we can go home as happy as we did last time. At that point we weren’t looking that far ahead. We were top at Christmas and the aim was 40 points and we were nearly there. We’re 10 months down the line and a lot has gone on but it’s the same desire is in the dressing room.”

He added: “Once you get a little taste of success people want more and the players are no different. We have really enjoyed the last 12 months but we want that to continue — we don’t want to rest on our laurels.”

King is the club’s longest-serving current player, having made 342 appearances, winning League One, the Championship, and the Premier League. Eight years ago on Tuesday he played in the Foxes’ 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers in League One.

He said: “It’s been brilliant. As a club we have managed to take massive steps, getting back to where we feel we belong in the Premier League. Now it’s a dream come true for the club and the players in the Champions League.”

Meanwhile, Copenhagen boss Stale Solbakken has called England’s Championship “brainless” and said he would never return.

The 48-year-old spent six months in charge at Wolves in 2012-13 before being sacked after just 30 games. But he is one of the longest serving Wolves bosses since 2012 after Terry Connor lasted 13 games, Dean Saunders 20, and Walter Zenga was sacked last week after 17 matches. Only Kenny Jackett’s three-year spell is better in the last four years.

Solbakken said: “I am one of the longest there (Wolves) now, I am getting better. If you are so stupid to take a job [in the Championship] then you have to take the blame. I wouldn’t have done it again ”.

He added: “It’s a difficult league to manage in, when the crowd are managing many of the games, they want to see chances. I have seen so many brainless Championship games, both live and on the bench.”