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Leicester City: Claudio Ranieri calls for repeat of 2015-16 consistency

By Thomas Atzenhoffer

BRUGGE, BELGIUM - SEPTEMBER 14: Claudio Ranieri manager of Leicester City looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League match between Club Brugge KV and Leicester City FC at Jan Breydel Stadium on September 14, 2016 in Brugge, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
BRUGGE, BELGIUM - SEPTEMBER 14: Claudio Ranieri manager of Leicester City looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League match between Club Brugge KV and Leicester City FC at Jan Breydel Stadium on September 14, 2016 in Brugge, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /
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Ahead of Leicester City and Southampton’s Sunday meeting at the King Power stadium, Manager Claudio Ranieri once again calls for consistency.

This season has been a rocky one so far for Leicester City. The defending Premier League title holders have had an up and down start to their campaign and have been consistent at only one thing, being inconsistent.

A loss to Hull City on opening day, a draw with Arsenal and a win against Swansea started the season and then the cycle repeated.

LEICESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 03: Filbert the Fox shakes hands with the fans during the Barclays Premier League match against Southampton at The King Power Stadium on April 3, 2016. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 03: Filbert the Fox shakes hands with the fans during the Barclays Premier League match against Southampton at The King Power Stadium on April 3, 2016. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images) /

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In the most recent run of matches the Foxes lost to Liverpool, defeated Burnley and then lost to Manchester United and now it is Southampton in their sights before the next international break.

Despite the inconsistency in results, one thing has remained true for the Foxes and that is their 100% home record at the King Power Stadium.

Southampton come into the match having won four of their last five in all competitions while Leicester gets a second straight home match following their midweek Champions League victory over FC Porto.

Speaking ahead of the match Ranieri spoke of having watched the Saints in their most recent UEFA Europa League match in which they drew with Hapoel Be’er Sheva in Israel:

"“Now I’m looking at this big match against Southampton. I watched them last night [against Hapoel Be’er Sheva] and they played very well.They’re very solid and had good possession and moved the ball very well. They’re very dangerous up front so it will be a very tough match for us but it’s good.”"

However, Ranieri knows that you can’t judge what will happen in the Premier League at the weekend on anything that has happened midweek.

Leicester City's Italian manager Claudio Ranieri (L) congratulates Leicester City's Algerian striker Islam Slimani as he leaves the pitch during the UEFA Champions League group G football match between Leicester City and Porto at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on Septmeber 27, 2016. Leicester won the match 1-0. / AFP / Adrian DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Leicester City’s Italian manager Claudio Ranieri (L) congratulates Leicester City’s Algerian striker Islam Slimani as he leaves the pitch during the UEFA Champions League group G football match between Leicester City and Porto at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on Septmeber 27, 2016. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images) /

In a league where any club can win on any given day, Leicester have to get back to their own basics of going out and fighting for every match the same way they did last season looking to contain their opponents and then punish them in transition.

Further in his press conference the Italian manager spoke on his sides league form at the moment:

"“Now, we’re up and down. In the Premier League we play so-so and in the Champions League so far we play good. I want consistency.Consistency was one of the key things last season and I want my players to have the same fighting spirit as they did in the last match.”"

Clean sheets in another interesting topic as the Foxes earner their fourth of the season in all competitions but Southampton have not conceded a goal in their last 450 minutes of play.

However, history is not on the side of the visitors as they have lost their last three matches at the King Power Stadium and Ranieri will be looking to see his side bounce back ahead of another break in action .

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