- Claudio Ranieri hails the team spirit between his Leicester squad full of ‘friends’
- City joined the Premier League leaders with a third straight victory over Watford
- N’Golo Kanté scored his first Foxes goal in 2-1 win
- Riyad Mahrez handed over penalty duties to aid record-chasing Jamie Vardy
Rarely can the concept of team spirit have been more evident among a Leicester City squad than in Saturday’s Barclays Premier League win over Watford and Claudio Ranieri was entirely unsurprised.
Take the widespread delight that met a first Foxes goal for the modest yet marvellous N’Golo Kanté. Or the hungry contribution of substitute Shinji Okazaki, one of several players who so regularly puts the needs of his teammates above his own. Or the selflessness of regular penalty taker Riyad Mahrez, who handed the responsibility to Jamie Vardy, allowing his colleague to continue his pursuit of a Premier League record by scoring for the ninth consecutive game.
“This squad is a group of friends that works very hard and I’m very proud to coach them,” Ranieri said in his post-match broadcast interviews. Given the bond that exists between them, these mates could even be brothers.
Ranieri remains realistic about his team’s Premier League prospects, maintaining the safe haven of 40 points as their primary objective, but he knows that togetherness has brought his squad a long way and it could take them even further.
“We talk about the spirit in the squad and you see that very well. If we’ve achieved 25 points already, it shows the spirit that exists in our dressing room.
“All of our players understand that they are all important for our project. Not only who is playing, but also the others.
“Also the crowd is very important, our support is fantastic. There is a fantastic link between us and our fans. They understand when we need them and they push. Thank you [to the fans]. Thank you very much.”
In the glow of a third straight victory, another Vardy goal and temporary joint leadership at the top of the league, another influential tweak from Ranieri was nearly lost in the post-match reaction.
Okazaki’s introduction at the break not only robbed a Watford side growing in confidence of time to build from the back, it also released Mahrez to cause maximum damage from his customary role on the right flank.
“It was a difficult match. We started very well and we wanted to press up because Watford build the action from a deep position,” Ranieri said.
“But they kept the ball very well and it was hard for us to press them.
“I needed a good link between Vardy and the midfielders and I wanted to put Riyad in his zone, he loves to play in that zone. In the first half, the opponent full-back pushed forward a lot, but in the second he could not because Riyad made the difference.
“Through the middle, Okazaki played and he also helped us when we didn’t have the ball.
“We worked very hard and in the second half I thought we deserved to win the match, we created more chances than them.”
It was the perfect way for Ranieri’s men to sign off ahead of 2015’s final international break, which will see nearly half of the City squad away representing their countries.
“The break is not so good for us in this moment, but they will enjoy [the time] with their national teams and when they come back they will be focused on Newcastle away,” Claudio concluded.
“Our strength is that we don’t think about having 25 points, just the next match.”