Ranieri: Our Fans Gave Us The Energy

- Islam Slimani scored the only goal of the game to move the Foxes onto six points from two games in Group G 

- Ranieri was pleased with the link between Riyad Mahrez and Slimani for the goal 

- The manager also welcomed the organisation his team showed in keeping the Portuguese giants at bay 

The Blue Army energised Leicester City’s players during their 1-0 UEFA Champions League victory over FC Porto on Tuesday night, says manager Claudio Ranieri. 

A sold out crowd on Filbert Way watched their side roar to all three points thanks to Islam Slimani’s first half strike – ensuring a 100 percent record in Group G after two matches. 

Ranieri’s Foxes recovered in impressive style from their defeat to Manchester United at the weekend with excellent performances all over the pitch to ensure that the Leicester City supporters were given another night to savour. 

Afterwards, Ranieri was delighted with everything that his side showed, particularly the flourishing link-up before international team-mates Slimani and Riyad Mahrez – the latter setting up the striker’s goal. 

“I’m very happy,” Ranieri said. “It’s our first home Champions League match in 132 years and our fans gave us a lot of energy. It’s fantastic and they pushed behind us the entire match. It was important to win against Porto because they are a very good team with good, quality players. It was important to score a goal. 

“I spoke a lot about corners and to maintain the clean sheet and my players tonight were very concentrated at attentive in every situation. It was good. It was good for everybody after the bad defeat in Manchester. 

“I’m waiting. I’m very sentimental. We have to continue to stay calm. Copenhagen won 4-0 and are very well organised. We must clean our mind and go back to the Premier League. 

“I was very confident with Slimani because he often scored against Porto when he was a Sporting Lisbon player. I spoke with Riyad and Islam and said ‘come on guys, make something good tonight’. They made the pass and the goal. It was good and after we defended well. We were well organised because Porto played well and with skilful players. We closed well the space.”