Claudio Ranieri Warns European Rivals Leicester City are “Dangerous” Champions League Underdogs

Next season’s Champions League underdogs Leicester City will put up a tough battle against the European competition’s regulars.

(Image credit: Eurosport)

Leicester City have lifted their first-ever Premier League crown after last weekend’s 3-1 win over Everton, and the manager, Claudio Ranieri, believes the current crop of players could stay with the team for next season. “I want to enjoy (winning the league) but I feel it is possible maybe to keep all the players,” said the 64-year-old boss of Leicester, who are looking to be Champions League underdogs next year. “It is important for us but it is important also for them because they don’t know the Champions League.”

The Italian manager stressed it might be good for the development of his players if they were to stay at Leicester another year and then maybe move on to another club. “If they go away, it is not good for them. It is much better if they improve another year here and then go wherever they want. But I have said so many times if one player comes to me and says “Gaffer, I want to go.” then I leave him to go because it is okay.”

This season they’ve managed to focus all their efforts in the Premier League, after being eliminated early from the FA Cup and the Capital One Cup, so they’re facing a tough challenge to find a good balance next season. “I am confident because this team two years ago won the Championship and the Championship is very, very tough. They all run all the year and then I hope we can find good players and make some replacement because next season there will be three cups and the Premier League,” Ranieri said.

Ranieri wants to keep players like Riyad Mahrez for next year. (Image credit: Leicester Mercury)

“It will be very important to be able to make good changes and give some rest to the players. I believe when there will be the draw for the (Champions League) group, other teams will want to play against us because we are in Europe for the first time and they think we are underdogs.” He also added that they’re outsiders in the competition, but are dangerous Champions League underdogs. “We are underdogs but we are dangerous. Underdogs can be dangerous.”

In addition to being Champions League underdogs, Leicester City are also underdogs to clinch the title in 2016/17. The Foxes are seventh favourites to lift the Premier League title next year, per online sportsbook Bet365. They’ve been given 26.00 (25/1) chances, while Liverpool and this season’s second-placed Tottenham are above them with odds of 10.00 (9/1) and 8.00 (7/1) respectively.

(For more info about the online sportsbook, check out Betting Herald’s Bet365 Sports Review.)

Manchester United are fourth favourites to win 8.00 (7/1) the league in 2016/17 for the first time since 2013. Arsenal currently boast odds of 6.50 (11/2), however that may change for the better if the Gunners boss Arsene Wenger manages to add a few stellar singings to his current squad. Online sportsbook Bet365 has placed Chelsea second 6.00 (5/1) on the list of clubs to win the league outright, with incoming manager Antonio Conte showing promise.

Manchester City are the title favourites 2.50 (6/4), mainly thanks to the imminent appointment of Pep Guardiola. After reaching the semi-finals in Europe’s elite competition this year, they will no longer be considered Champions League underdogs. With the Catalan at their side, they could very well be challenging on all fronts in the coming seasons.