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Claudio Ranieri tells Leicester players to stay calm and focused

Claudio Ranieri Manager of Leicester City looks on
Image: Claudio Ranieri insists all the pressure is on Leicester's title rivals

Claudio Ranieri insists there is no pressure on his Leicester side, but has told his players 'don't look down!'

Leicester moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League with the 3-1 win at Manchester City on Saturday - a result which saw them end the weekend 12 points ahead of fifth-placed Manchester United with 13 games to go.

But having begun the season expecting to battle relegation, Ranieri believes it is Leicester's title rivals who are feeling the heat and that his side can continue to flourish if they train and focus exactly as they have done for the first 25 games of the season.

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Ranieri says 'the others' when asked who will finish top of the Premier League table

"I am enjoying it and also my players must enjoy it - until Tuesday anyway, then focus [on Arsenal]. We want them to train the same as they play. It's important for us to concentrate and keep our feet on the ground," he said ahead of the Super Sunday trip to third-placed Arsenal.

"That's important because it's the first time in their lives that they are doing something special. So it's important not to look down or behind you. Like a climber, you need to look up. If you look down, you go: 'Oh! My God, look where we are!'"

 Robert Huth of Leicester City celebrates
Image: Robert Huth scored twice in the 3-1 win on Saturday

"Of course the bigger clubs are nervous but it doesn't matter to me, it's not my problem," he added.

"For Leicester the pressure was at the beginning of the season when we started out because our goal was to maintain our position in the Premier League but now the pressure is on the other teams who have spent a lot of money to win the Premier League, the Champions League.

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Leicester City's Robert Huth (right), goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (centre) and Demarai Gray applaud supporters at the end after win v Manchester City
Image: Leicester's players celebrate after their victory at the Etihad Stadium

"We are enjoying it. We have to play like we have this spirit - then the result is not important. If our performance is good I am very happy.

"Surviving relegation last season helps because that was a big, big pressure for them. Now they can remember the pressure they faced last season, they can smell how it was and stay calm this season. 

"I don't know exactly if the pressure was bigger last season but I would think, yes - if you don't survive and go down it's difficult to come back: that is helping the spirit now."

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