Claudio Ranieri ready to commit to Leicester for 'a long time'
Thursday 17 March 2016 17:44, UK
Claudio Ranieri says he is ready to commit his future to Leicester for as long as the club's owners want him.
The Italian signed a three-year deal to replace Nigel Pearson last summer with the initial brief of keeping Leicester in the Premier League this season.
Instead Ranieri and his players can tick off another game towards the most unlikely title triumph in recent memory when they go to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Leicester take a five-point lead into that game, and whatever happens this season Ranieri believes the ride is only just beginning.
Asked at his pre-match press conference about the possibility of succeeding Italy boss Antonio Conte in the summer he said: "No team can change my mind. I am very proud if they are thinking about me in Italy and everywhere but this is my club.
"I want to stay here, if my owner is happy I stay here. There is nothing to change my mind.
"There are a lot of things to do here. We are just starting to build. If the owner is happy with me, I am happy with him. If it's possible I would like to stay a long time."
Ranieri called first international call-ups for Danny Drinkwater and N'Golo Kante "another little step" in Leicester's development.
"I start to be worried now," he said. "I'd like them to be with me but I understand.
"Do you remember from the beginning I said we have to save the team, we have build a foundation and also the winning mentality? This is another little step.
"Some players who didn't go to the national team now start to go there, then it is important they get more confidence."
