Claudio Ranieri says 2015 has been Leicester 'miracle'

Claudio Ranieri has told his players to celebrate Leicester's "miracle" 2015 before turning their minds to Bournemouth.

City needed seven wins from their final nine games to escape relegation last season but host Bournemouth on Saturday as the Premier League's second-best team, behind leaders Arsenal on goal difference only.

Ranieri's side are just one point off his 40-point survival target with half the season still to play, and the Italian now acknowledges there is a growing determination in the squad to keep fighting at the top.

"We've had a fantastic half-season, it's unbelievable what we are doing and we must continue. We are building the team, building the personality," he said.

"We are building our minds at the top to fight. I know our fans are dreaming but it's important to remember where we started.

"We will fight, right until the end and we want to win. If we give 100 per cent then we accept every result.

"They can celebrate [New Year], they are very, very good professionals. It's important to celebrate, to enjoy it, because it was a fantastic 2015 but afterwards we have to put our minds on Bournemouth."

Leicester go into the Bournemouth game on the back of a defeat at Liverpool and a home draw with Manchester City - just the second time this season they have gone two games without a win.

"Bournemouth are a very dangerous team," said Ranieri, who has Jamie Vardy fully fit after illness.

"They lost five in a row but before losing to Arsenal [2-0 on Monday] they made a fantastic positive run. For us it's important to concentrate 100 per cent."