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Leicester City: ‘We are still underdogs’ says Ranieri

By Jake Cursley

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 05: Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri talks to the media before the Community Shield match versus Manchester United during the Leicester City Training and Press Conference at Belvoir Drive Training Complex on August 05 , 2016 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 05: Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri talks to the media before the Community Shield match versus Manchester United during the Leicester City Training and Press Conference at Belvoir Drive Training Complex on August 05 , 2016 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images) /
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Premier League title holders Leicester City are still underdogs going into the upcoming season says manager Claudio Ranieri despite their previous season.

Related Story: Match Preview: Leicester City vs. Manchester United

The Leicester City boss stated that his team are not just underdogs for the title but also for tomorrow’s clash with FA Cup winners Manchester United in the Community Shield, despite finishing 15  points ahead of them last season in the league.

Speaking to the media, Ranieri said

"I am always the underdog. We have a lot of respect for all the teams. Of course we want to beat everybody. That is our philosophy. We try to do our best in every match. We try to do our maximum. Give me 100 per cent, then I am happy."

SOLNA, SWEDEN - AUGUST 03: Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City talks to Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri before the International Champions Cup 2016 match between Barcelona and Leicester City at Friends arena on August 3, 2016 in Solna, Sweden. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
SOLNA, SWEDEN – AUGUST 03: Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City talks to Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri before the International Champions Cup 2016 match between Barcelona and Leicester City at Friends arena on August 3, 2016 in Solna, Sweden. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images) /

Speaking of his pre-season games, Ranieri was not happy with Leicester City’s performance against PSG, stating that his team was lackluster and their showing did not show what made Leicester City so successful last season, team cohesion.

"You can’t tell me that ‘this is my maximum’. I want more than my maximum of last season. That’s why I was not so happy in Los Angeles because I did not see the same mentality together (when they lost 4-0 to Paris Saint-Germain)."

"Everybody worked hard but not as a team. Against Barcelona we lost but I watched a team. On Sunday, victory is important, but I want to see a team, my team, where everybody is working together"

Next: Leicester City v Manchester United: FA Community Shield Preview, Projected Lineups and Betting Odds

When asked about PFA ‘Player of the Year’ Riyad Mahrez, Ranieri continued to insist that he will remain a Leicester City player after the transfer deadline day, despite Arsenal’s apparent interest in the winger.

"The chairman told me when we spoke about the team that we want to keep everybody, but Kante had the clause and wanted to go. The others stay with us."

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