Claudio Ranieri: Leicester should be 6,000/1 for Premier League title this season… Mourinho, Guardiola and Conte are here to win
Foxes boss says Special One can be 'New Fergie' as United, Man City and Chelsea bid to wrest Prem crown back
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CLAUDIO RANIERI says Leicester should be 6,000/1 to win the Premier League this season as superstar bosses begin their work with title rivals.
The Foxes defied odds of 5000/1 to upset English football's elite and win a first top-flight crown in Leicester's 132-year history last term.
But Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and Antonio Conte have been tasked with wresting the Prem trophy back for the big-boys this time around.
And the Italian believes his side begin the campaign as even bigger underdogs than ever.
Ranieri, 64, said: “The basic concept is to start from scratch. We have won the title, we accomplished something perhaps unique, but now we turn the page
“If at the beginning of last season the bookmakers quoted 5000/1 on our chances of the title, this time it's 6000/1.
Leicester pipped Tottenham in the title race in May but Manchester United, Man City and Chelsea are all expected to launch much greater challenges this season.
Former Blues boss Mourinho has taken over at Old Trafford, ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich chief Pep Guardiola has made a high-profile switch to neighbours City, while Italy manager Conte now sits in the Stamford Bridge hotseat.
All three are serial winners – and Ranieri expects them to hit the ground running with their new sides.
Speaking to , he claimed: “Mourinho can be the new Ferguson.
“He will not stay 26 years, but he will leave his imprint.
“Antonio and Chelsea are made for each other.
“They must know each other well and not let themselves be sidelined by the inevitable cultural differences, but we shall see an Italian model at Chelsea.
“Guardiola seems to be the right man in the right place.”
Ranieri also reserved praise for Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino as well as Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
He said: “Pochettino was an exemplary rival in the final sprint to the title last season. He’s working very well.
“Klopp will have the advantage of having broken the ice with the environment and learned more about the Premier League.
“He also seems to me perfect for a particular environment such as that of Liverpool.”
Leicester kick-off their title defence away at newly-promoted Hull on August 13.
They also face the added challenge of a first-ever Champions League campaign, with the group stages beginning in September.
In total, the King Power club will compete in five competitions – but Ranieri is adamant Prem survival will be his first target.
He added: “The Champions League is an exciting experience, but it burns huge amounts of energy, especially mentally. We will have to learn to cope with this.”
“The objective to start is the threshold of 40 points to reach salvation.
“Then, once we hit that, we will raise the bar. Finish in the top 10. The Europa League. A place in the Champions League.
“And maybe win a trophy from the five in which we will play: Super Cup, League, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions.
“The lineup is this. Step by step.”