Ranieri Reflects On Difficult Saints Test

- The manager said that Southampton were the better side on the day 

- Robert Huth, Jamie Vardy and Islam Slimani all went close for the Foxes 

- City move onto eight points from seven games going into the international break 

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri was delighted to come away with a point from a Premier League clash with Southampton at King Power Stadium, along with a clean sheet. 

The Foxes held their in-form opponents to a goalless draw on the day, but the manager conceded that Claude Puel’s Saints deserved to come away with all three points having had the better of the chances. 

Robert Huth, Jamie Vardy and Islam Slimani went close for the Foxes throughout the match while Charlie Austin struck the upright for Southampton on their way to a sixth consecutive clean sheet. 

The draw keeps the gap between the two sides to one point after seven games of the season and heading into an international break. 

Speaking afterwards, Ranieri told LCFC TV HD: “It was a difficult match. I expected this kind of match. They were very organised and deserved to win, but fortunately we played at home and our supporters gave us a lot of energy. 

“They moved the ball quickly with short passes and for us it was very tough to press. In the first half we did this but in the second half we didn’t. 

“Southampton played very well and when I think about when we play Champions League and then Premier League - we may be a little tired. Southampton played in Europe too but they changed seven players and played better than us today. 

“Of course we got a clean sheet and one point. Slowly, slowly, it’s good. 

“For this reason I said yes we can win. We made three chances to score but they created four or five chances to score. Also in the first half they touched the post with Austin. Today, Southampton were better than us.”