Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri expects rival clubs to step up the mind games during the Premier League run-in as they would regard it as a disaster to be beaten to the title by the Foxes.
Last weekend’s 3-1 away win over Manchester City has put Ranieri’s side five points clear at the top with 13 matches to go, but they face another trip to face a title rival on Sunday when they visit Arsenal.
Ranieri has repeatedly said his side are able to play without pressure because they are hugely exceeding expectations, but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is among those trying to change that.
Will Arsenal overturn their poor record against table-topping teams when they face Leicester on Sunday? #SSNHQ pic.twitter.com/oR0AtYIaR6
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In his pre-match media conference, the Frenchman claimed that Leicester’s lack of European football could actually hamper, not help, as it leaves the players more time to think about the position they are in and feel the pressure of the chasing pack. But Ranieri sounded unconcerned.
“We don’t have the pressure, we did our job. Our goal is okay, anything more which comes is fantastic,” the Italian said. “I know slowly, slowly somebody will want to put pressure on us. They say, ‘Okay, Leicester – sooner or later – will go down’.
“Now, some people are thinking, ‘Maybe Leicester can win, it’s important to put pressure on them, to say something because we spent a lot of money, if we don’t win it’s a disaster’.”
Leicester’s win at Etihad Stadium last weekend saw them prevail against an expensively assembled side which cost many multiples of the money spent on the Foxes squad.
Although Arsenal have had a relatively frugal season, signing only Petr Cech last summer and Mohamed Elneny in January, they are expected to field a team including the likes of £42.5 million (Dh226.4m) midfielder Mesut Ozil and £35m (Dh186.4m) forward Alexis Sanchez.
Figures like those leave Ranieri confident all the pressure remains on the teams immediately behind his trying to close the gap.
“We work so hard to achieve this level, we want to stay there, it’s no pressure for us,” he said. “We want to fight face to-face. The pressure is about the other teams. We have a pressure for our little gap, Arsenal spend a lot of money, they have pressure.
“Tell me why I must feel the pressure? Why are so many journalists here? It’s a great story, so why the pressure, let’s enjoy it.”
