Claudio Ranieri makes hilarious comparison between Leicester and this movie character

Claudio Ranieri comapres Leicester's stamina in the Premier League to Forrest Gump

 

CLAUDIO RANIERI believes Leicester can last the pace with the Premier League title favourites after comparing their stamina to Forrest Gump.

 

The Foxes boss insists Arsenal and Manchester City are favourites for the title but reckons his players can match them for stamina.

And he has likened his team, who staged a remarkable fightback to avoid relegation at the end of last season, to the Tom Hanks character who ran across America in the 1994 film.

"I am very confident because if Leicester last season saved themselves in the last two months that means the stamina is fantastic," said the Italian, whose side top the table at Christmas.

"Why can't we continue to run, run, run? We are like Forrest Gump - Leicester is Forrest Gump.

"We must continue to play and work hard. We know very well our stamina is good and as long as our stamina is good we can continue to fight against anybody.

 

"Our fans will enjoy this Christmas Day a lot and this is very good."

Ranieri has overseen phase two of a Leicester turnaround that began with last season's Great Escape. They won seven of their last nine games under Nigel Pearson to escape the drop and have maintained their form under Ranieri.

They have lost just once - to Arsenal - in 17 games and fans are beginning to dream of a genuine title challenge. And Ranieri says the spirit in his squad has been crucial to their surge.

"Football is not only 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1," said Ranieri. "These are only numbers.

"Possession is important but that is not our best strength, so why do I have to show something we are not so good at?

 

"We are a good team because we show our strengths and we cover our weaknesses very well.

"It's possible because there is a fantastic dressing room, they train very well, and that is my philosophy.

"We don't have the high quality like City and Arsenal but we fight together. Every ball for us is the last ball. That's what we believe. First minute or last minute, every ball is important."

Ranieri has refused to discuss his team's title hopes, insisting that 40 points to avoid relegation remains his only target.

But he has now revealed he is planning a players' meeting to discuss new goals once the Foxes hit the 40-point mark.

"I want to speak early with my players," he said. "When we achieve 40 points we will stop for one second and we will have a meeting because it is important.

 

Christian Benteke is determined to help Liverpool put and end to their dismal form

 

"Maybe I want to go one way and they want to go another way, and we have to go together."

Jurgen Klopp must also be wondering which way to go having claimed a solitary point from their last three games to dim the bright start to his regime.

However, nine points are up for grabs in the space of a week and striker Christian Benteke is determined to help steer Liverpool back on track.

"It's a special period because you have Christmas and New Year and a lot of games coming up. It's a chance for us to win some games," he said.

"Everyone knows that we have a very big squad with a lot of quality. We have to try to put that quality together."

Liverpool's last encounter on Sunday was arguably their worst of the season as they were sunk 3-0 by Watford in a miserable day at Vicarage Road, so the visit of the Foxes gives Benteke and the rest of the squad a chance to make amends.

 

The £32.5m striker was a substitute in the Watford loss and is determined to force his way back into Klopp's plans.

And he paid his respects to the way Leicester have taken the Premier League by storm this season.

He said: "I'm feeling good and I want to play because it's a big game. But it's up to the manager and I respect his decision.

"Leicester won't just sit back and wait for a mistake.

"They will want to play and show that they have the quality to play. That's why they're first in the league.

"The Premier League is the strongest league in the world. You can see this year it's really strong.

"Of course we have to respect them but when we play them we have to do everything to try to get the three points."