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Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri offers players pizza for a clean sheet

Claudio Ranieri looks on during the Capital One Cup second round match between Bury and Leicester City
Image: Claudio Ranieri has offered to buy his players pizza if they keep a clean sheet

Claudio Ranieri revealed he is trying to get Leicester to stop conceding goals by offering to buy his players pizza if they can keep a clean sheet.

The Foxes have been in fine form so far this season but are yet to get through a Premier League match without conceding.

They travel to the Britannia Stadium on Saturday to face Stoke and the Italian said he has been trying to bribe his team with a nice meal if they can keep it tight at the back.

However, he is not sure if they are interested in his offer.

Leicester's Jamie Vardy (second left) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second and equalising goal during the match against Aston Villa
Image: Leicester sit second in the Premier League after an unbeaten start

"I want to buy pizza but my players don't want pizza, maybe they don't love pizza," Ranieri said.

"Because I said when we make a clean sheet, I will buy everybody a pizza. Maybe they wait until I say 'Okay, a good dinner'.

"I told them, the clean sheet, I buy everybody a pizza. I think they wait until I improve my offer, okay a pizza and a hot dog."

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Despite conceding goals, Leicester have started the season brightly and sit second in the league table having yet to lose a game.

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Claudio Ranieri has promised his team free pizza if they manage to keep a clean sheet this weekend against Stoke.

Performances have pleased the 63-year-old, who compared his side to the Royal Air Force after a flying start to the new Premier League campaign.

"I say to my team, they are like the RAF. It's fantastic...zoom, zoom," Ranieri said.

"I'd like to keep the ball more, but this is not in our characteristic. So I'm happy they go fast, fast."

Ranieri said he expected Stoke, who have not picked up a win so far in the league, to kick-start their season soon but hopes it will happen after this weekend.

Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City celebrates scoring
Image: Leicester's Riyad Mahrez has enjoyed a fine start to the season

"Sooner or later they will start to play," he said. "But I hope after Saturday."

Leicester have taken 11 points from a maximum 15 after waging a remarkable battle against relegation last season and scored 11 goals.

They sit second in the league but Ranieri said he expects the top teams to recover from pre-season schedules and pull away as the season goes on.

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Super Sunday guest Dwight Yorke said Leicester City thoroughly deserved their comeback win against local rivals Aston Villa.

"Now is the start, there are different preparations," he said. "The big clubs go around the world and for us it is easier as we stay, we work together, every day, every week.

"For the big teams it is not the same and maybe the start is better for the little teams who are ready to take some more points.

"But in the long term the top class will arrive at the top and the middle stay in the middle and the little behind everybody." 

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