Ranieri: Goalscorers Never Forget

- Claudio Ranieri praises Jamie Vardy after the Leicester City striker’s return to the goals
- Vardy scored the opener in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Swansea City
- Ranieri says Vardy will be pleased, but he’s more interested in his team contribution
- First win of the season brings satisfaction after ‘outstanding’ first half
As he sat in his post-match press conference, suit still slightly damp from the deluge that engulfed his side’s first win of the Premier League season, Claudio Ranieri wore the smile of a vindicated man.
“I am not worried, because Jamie is very focused,” Ranieri had said of Jamie Vardy – the 24-goal leading scorer in Leicester City’s unforgettable Premier League triumph last season – prior to Swansea City’s visit to King Power Stadium.
In truth, any apparent concern over Vardy’s form always looked premature – the season just two games old and the England striker having found the net in typically opportunistic style in the Community Shield at Wembley three weeks ago. The question had come, but alarm bells will hardly have been ringing.
Yet the satisfaction of City’s no.9 opening the scoring against the Swans – a typical burst in behind onto a Danny Drinkwater pass and an emphatic finish – was evident from both player and manager. Vardy was up and running, en route to a Leicester win.
“The goalscorer will always score a goal,” Ranieri said after the game.
“Of course, some seasons, it is a little more and some a little less but never, never the goalscorer forget the way to goal.
“Of course it is important to score a goal for the strikers, because it is their life.
“For me the most important thing was the performance and Jamie pressed a lot with his team-mates.”
The torrential conditions certainly made life difficult for both sides during Saturday’s 2-1 victory, but nothing to dampen Ranieri’s spirits after the game.
Thrilled with his team’s first-half display, the Italian could see where the momentum began to shift. Wes Morgan had doubled City’s lead shortly after half-time, but a missed penalty from Riyad Mahrez offered Swansea some hope.
“The first half was outstanding for us,” Ranieri said.
“We had to score a little, one more goal in the first half perhaps, but it is good.
“The second half we started very well and scored a second goal. Afterwards we missed a penalty and maybe the opponent get more confident and we complicated a little our life.
“In the end it was a tough match. The rain was unbelievable. It was like water polo.
“But it was good, three points and a first victory for us, it was good. I am very happy.”