Ranieri on the brink as Foxes slump to cup loss at Millwall
Leicester City's season hit a new low as they were beaten by Millwall in the FA Cup despite the League One side playing 40 minutes with 10 men.
Claudio Ranier's season took another turn for the worse on Saturday as his Leicester City side were knocked out of the FA Cup by third-tier Millwall.
The Italian conceded his Premier League champions were second best once Millwall were reduced to 10 men in Saturday's fifth-round shock at The Den.
Leicester were beaten by Shaun Cummings' last-gasp goal as the League One side shrugged off the dismissal of Jake Cooper.
A much-changed Foxes line-up had started brightly, but failed to make their promising first-half display count and looked void of ideas after Cooper's red card in the 52nd minute.
Ranieri: "When we have the opportunity to go to the next round, we have to win"
"I am very disappointed," said Leicester boss Ranieri, whose side sit just one point above the Premier League relegation zone and realistically have to beat Sevilla in the Champions League to save their manager's job.
"We played well in the first half, so-so at the beginning of the second until it went to 10 v 11. After that, they played better than us, with more desire and heart and deserved to win. When we have the opportunity to go to the next round, we have to win. We have to show desire. I gave a great opportunity to my players."
"Try to keep a clean sheet"
"In the first half, I watched good football. We were very prepared. I was happy at the end of the first half. I said 'keep going, try to score but keep a clean sheet' because in the second leg [a replay] the pitch might be better at home and we can play our football but we lost at the last minute."
"We can learn. When a team from League One beats the champions we say 'why?' and have to react as soon as possible. We are better than Millwall, but Millwall deserved to win."
Lions boss Neil Harris was glad his side could put on a show for the sell-out crowd, adding: "I'm delighted for the players, first and foremost because they have to put up with me. I love them."
Semi-final of the FA Cup between: Chelsea vs Manchester United