Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri after Swansea loss: I've been too loyal to my title winners
CLAUDIO RANIERI admits he has been too loyal to the players who won Leicester the title after they crashed to their fifth consecutive defeat at Swansea.
Posted Monday, February 13, 2017 by Express.co.uk
Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri: I have been too loyal to my title winners
The 2-0 defeat leaves Leicester just one point above the relegation zone after failing to score in more than 10 hours of Premier League football.
The club's owners recently gave Claudio Ranieri a vote of confidence but, after seeing almost the same side that lifted the title in May lose again, that confidence can no longer be held in his players.
"Of course I must change something because it is not possible to continue in this way," he said.
"Am I too loyal to my players? I could be, could be. It is difficult when you achieve something so good.
Alfie Mawson scoring a stunning volley to open the scoring for Swansea
"You want to give them one chance, two chances, three chances. Maybe now, it is too much."
Ranieri had given a worrying simple indictment of his team on television immediately after the match.
"We have two problems," he said. "We concede and we don't score."
But he admits that words do not even begin to solve his problems and the Italian seemed exasperated that whenever he calls a team meeting the players seem positive enough, only to fail to convert that into performances on the pitch.
Jamie Vardy's Leicester have failed to score in over 10 hours in the Premier League
"It is difficult to say it is mental," he said. "When I speak to them, everybody pulls together. Everybody wants to react. Everybody tries to say something positive to help each other. But after, we go back.
"Every time I speak to the players and the players speak to me we are always confident we can change the situation."
He further hinted that the Champions League campaign, which has been the one saving grace of the season so far, must be sacrificed, with staying in the Premier League such a grave concern.
"Now there are a few matches in front of us so we have to find a solution very, very soon," said Ranieri.
"There are two matches in front of us, one in the FA Cup and one in the Champions League - but our mind is on the Premier League."
Swansea, on the other hand, have a weekend off and manager Paul Lambert will give his players a well-earned break after they picked up their fourth win in the six Premier League games since his appointment was announced.
That said, leaders Chelsea are the opponents when they report back later this month.
"Every game is an opportunity to get a result - I'm disappointed we didn't beat Manchester City!" said Lambert.
"I'm very happy with the form of the team and the confidence but it is only a small step today."
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