The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Leicester

  • Ranieri praises Musa for precious equaliser for Leicester

    Ranieri praises Musa for precious equaliser for Leicester

    LEICESTER City boss Claudio Ranieri has praised Ahmed Musa for the way the Nigeria forward took his goal in the Foxes’ 1-1 Premier League draw at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

    Musa equalised for Leicester off a Jamie Vardy assist after Vincent Janssen had given Spurs the lead from the penalty spot.

    It was Musa’s second goal of the season in back-to-back games. Musa’s good form has arrived just in time for Nigeria’s key World Cup qualifier against Algeria on 12 November.

    In his post-match comments, Ranieri admitted Musa is beginning to come to grips with the English Premier League.

    “Musa is a good player and slowly starting to understand the Premier League. He saw the ball arrive and was very strong,” Ranieri said.

    The Italian coach went on to describe Leicester’s general play as outstanding against Spurs.

    “I’m pleased with the point, our performance and our spirit. We played together and we fought together. Outstanding,” he added.

    “We always try to win. That’s the magic of English football – both teams giving everything to try to win.”

    “We played well today against a good team. Our spirit often this season has been singular, but today it was squad spirit.”

    The result earned Leicester City earned their first away point in the Premier League this season as Ahmed Musa levelled to secure a deserved draw for the defending champions at Tottenham.

    Vincent Janssen gave the hosts the lead at White Hart Lane, scoring his first Premier League goal from the penalty spot after Robert Huth had felled the striker.

  • LEICESTER CROWNED ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

    LEICESTER CROWNED ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

    JAMIE Vardy scored a brace and missed a penalty as new Premier League champions Leicester City comfortably defeated Everton 3-1yesterday ahead of their trophy presentation ceremony.
    Vardy, banned for Leicester’s two previous games, struck in each half at a jubilant King Power Stadium, with Andy King also on target, and would have had a hat-trick had he not blazed a second-half penalty over the bar.
    But personal milestones were of secondary importance on a day when players, staff and supporters of the modest east Midlands club, who narrowly escaped relegation last season, united in joyous celebration of their 5 000-1 title triumph.
    Fans were treated to a pre-match performance by renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, who prompted roars of approval from the flag-waving home support by removing his jacket to reveal a blue Leicester shirt as he sang.
    Steve Worthy, a lifelong Leicester fan, presented the trophy to captain Wes Morgan following the game after winning a competition arranged by league sponsors Barclays. The 25kg trophy has been decorated with ribbons of blue, for Leicester, and yellow, representing the royal house of Thailand, home country of club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
    Leicester play their final game of the season next Sunday at outgoing champions Chelsea, the former club of inspirational manager Claudio Ranieri, before an open-top bus parade in Leicester on May 16.
    Second-place Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-2 draw at Chelsea last Monday, which gave Leicester the title, sparked a week of celebrations in the city and fans arrived at the stadium several hours before kick-off on Saturday to drink in the moment.

  • Arsenal 2-1 Leicester: Iwobi missing

    Arsenal 2-1 Leicester: Iwobi missing

    Alex Iwobi was not involved in Arsenal´s 2-1 victory in the Premier League tie against Leicester City at the Emirates yesterday.

    Manager Arsene Wenger announced his starting lineup and the seven players that made the substitutes bench, without including the Nigeria international.

    Iwobi has been officially promoted to the Gunners first-team squad and practiced with the likes of Ozil, Sanchez and Walcott on Saturday only to be left out of the encounter.

    The 19-year-old has made four appearances in the Premier League so far this season, coming off the bench in all the games.

  • Leicester keep £23m for Ahmed Musa

    Leicester keep £23m for Ahmed Musa

    Leicester City are preparing a £23million bid for Nigerian attacker Ahmed Musa in the European summer, according to the Mirror.

    Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri tried to lure Musa to the King Power Stadium in the recent January transfer window, but the player’s Russian club CSKA Moscow refused to sell.

    CSKA are currently top of the Russian Premier League and face Dynamo Kiev in the last 16 round of the UEFA Champions League – they believe that allowing Musa to leave would hurt their ambitions for the remainder of the season.

    Musa, who has scored 10 goals across all competitions this season, reminded CSKA of his worth with a goal to help beat Valarenga in a friendly last Wednesday.

    The Russian club is trying to persuade Musa, who signed a new four-year deal last year, that he should remain with them for the duration of his contract and even beyond.

    But the player is understood to have his heart set on a move to the Premier League and has been assured that Ranieri is impressed enough by him to continue his pursuit.

    Leicester had bids of £15million and £18.7million turned down for Musa last month. Stoke and Southampton are also reportedly interested in the Nigerian.