Aliens more likely than Leicester title repeat, says Ranieri
The Leicester City coach joked that "It's easier for ET to come to Piccadilly Circus" than for Leicester to regain the Premier League and that their odds should be upped to 6000-1
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Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri joked on Thursday that there is more chance of aliens landing in London than there is of his side successfully defending their Premier League title this season.
Leicester defied odds of 5,000-1 to win last season's title and on the eve of their new campaign, which begins with a trip to promoted Hull City on Saturday, Ranieri insisted that lightning would not strike twice.
"It is normal that we can't win the league"
"It's easier for ET to come to Piccadilly Circus," he told a press conference at Leicester's King Power Stadium. "I work to be safe (from relegation) and continue to build a team. Anything more that happens is fantastic. It is normal that we can't win the league. For this reason I say the bookmakers must do 6,000-1. It is impossible. It is more difficult than last season."
Ranieri, who signed a new four-year contract this week, has seen all of the Premier League's heavyweights strengthen during the off-season. Manchester United and Manchester City have each spent around 150 million pounds ($194.4 million, 174 million euros) on new players. United have notably acquired Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with City bringing in a raft of promising young players including England centre-back John Stones and Germany winger Leroy Sane.
"I'm curious to see where we'll finish"
"I am very curious. All the world is curious (about) what will happen with Leicester," said Ranieri. "I am very curious to see where we finish. Of course the big teams are ready to fight for the title. We are ready to defend our title, but we know it is a difficult gap. Last season we made something unbelievable. But now the big teams will come back, I am sure."