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Champions League: Leicester City showed big heart, says Claudio Ranieri

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments106

Sevilla 2-1 Leicester: Can Vardy's goal spark a revival?

Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri praised his side's "big heart" after Jamie Vardy grabbed a potentially crucial away goal in their Champions League last 16 tie at Sevilla.

The Foxes were 2-0 down before Vardy scored for the first time since 10 December to give the Foxes an away goal in a 2-1 defeat.

The second leg at the King Power Stadium takes place on 14 March.

"We showed fight," Ranieri told BBC Radio 5 live.

"When we play with this character, the luck comes to your side. We have to keep going."

Floodgates to open for Vardy?

Vardy played a significant role in Leicester's run to the Premier League title last season, scoring 24 league goals.

His goal on Wednesday ended a run of nine games without scoring and Ranieri is hopeful it will give the England striker, and the rest of the Leicester team, confidence for the remainder of the season.

"The goalscorer needs to score, needs to get confidence," he added. "This goal reopens our confidence."

Another defeat, but a corner turned for Leicester?

Ranieri had spoken before the game that this fixture could prove to be a turning point in a difficult season.

After winning the league last season they now find themselves one point above the relegation zone.

"We came in the dressing room and I know we lost but I felt that buzz again from the boys and that togetherness," said Leicester defender Danny Simpson.

"I really hope that can kick us on in the league. I know the Champions League is a big competition but the Premier League is the bread and butter and we've got Liverpool next which is a massive game."

'Performance of the season by Leicester'

Kasper Schmeichel
Schmeichel saved Correa's penalty when the score was 0-0

Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville, who was watching the game for BBC Radio 5 live, believes the Foxes showed more fight in the game than they had all season, particularly after Kasper Schmeichel saved Joaquin Correa's first-half penalty.

"I thought the penalty save in the first half could be a turning point in the whole season for Leicester," he said. "Not much luck has been going their way and you saw a real lift and team spirit.

"Sir Alex Ferguson always used to say to us to remember the hard work and the pain we put in last season and put in an extra 10%. Leicester came off shattered after running their socks off and that should be the norm. We haven't seen that from them all season.

"That's the performance of the season for me by Leicester. Particularly in the second half. They were courageous on the ball and took the came to Sevilla. Well done Claudio Ranieri, well done Leicester City. They are still in this tie."

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106 comments

  • Comment posted by the peoples poet, at 10:47 23 Feb 2017

    2 years ago, would the fans have taken a title win, great champions league run but possible relegation?
    COURSE THEY WOULD. enjoy the ride leicester.

  • Comment posted by ieuan, at 11:01 23 Feb 2017

    Dilly ding dilly dong it's the Champions League guys. Leicester are in the Champions League. Leicester. In the Champions League. Enjoy.

  • Comment posted by Ian, at 11:39 23 Feb 2017

    Demari Gray at £4m must be the bargain of the decade, Rainieri uses him sparingly but really needs to utilise his pace at home in the 2nd leg. He looked like an outstanding prospect at Birmingham who basically gave him away for that fee, and now is the time to turn him in to a potent 90 minute threat rather than an impact player.

  • Comment posted by User0478174702, at 10:52 23 Feb 2017

    Better late than never. Seems Europa league is more important than CL when the sixth placed team in PL play.

  • Comment posted by FiddlersElbow, at 11:20 23 Feb 2017

    As a Chelsea and football fan, good luck to the Foxes, hope you stay up and would be great if you could pull of a miracle in Europe. That would rate with what Clough did with
    Forest after bringing them up from the old 2nd division.

  • Comment posted by User0478174702, at 11:11 23 Feb 2017

    14. Om

    Didn't actually watch it but thought Leicester would get properly turned over out there by what is a good Seville team. I would certainly take 2-1 away from home.

  • Comment posted by foscari, at 10:48 23 Feb 2017

    I was amazed that Ranieri kept Moussa on the pitch for so long. I was so much in agreement with Robbie Savage that Moussa was having worse than a shocker.
    We all saw how Leicester improved after the substitution.

  • Comment posted by mrmjvc, at 11:28 23 Feb 2017

    Great result against a side who've beaten both Madrid clubs at home. Where are all the usual ill informed "La Liga is miles better than PL" comments? This game certainly didn't make a great case. Sevilla will play Atletico Madrid the weekend after the 2nd leg so their line up will be interesting.

  • Comment posted by User0478174702, at 12:12 23 Feb 2017

    Looking at the BBC footy webpage right now there are 14 articles of which 8 have a direct link to all things Man Utd and 1, about Santi Cazorla, has a "related story" link to Wayne Rooney to China (how?!)

    So to see if there is any perceived BBC bias I just checked on wiki and the BBC Sport website is based in... Salford.

    Make of that what you will.

    Well done Leicester btw.

  • Comment posted by bjc, at 11:44 23 Feb 2017

    Amazing how, despite class gulf, some grit, determination and organisation (and yes, luck too) can keep you in a contest. Things the 'genius' at Arsenal knows nothing about or as long since forgotten. If one more ex Arsenal player exonerates the clown to blame the players HE CHOSE TO SIGN, I'll explode. Anyway, good luck to Leicester. Still think they'll go out, but it won't be for lack of effort.

  • Comment posted by azerty2013, at 11:40 23 Feb 2017

    Leicester, Ranieri and their fans rightly deserve everything they are getting this season after winning the PL above a bunch of over rated millionaires.
    PL trophy in the cupboard, at least 4 CL games at home, make the most of it, i bet the places for the return leg will be hard to find.
    Best of luck, here's hoping Vardy get's the winning goal.
    Oh and by the way, Leicester to stay up.

  • Comment posted by Pabs, at 11:58 23 Feb 2017

    More like Schmeichel has massive gloves; what a keeper!

  • Comment posted by D1710810867791, at 11:57 23 Feb 2017

    At last something positive about Leicester. They certain were up against superior opposition away from home and got a priceless goal. I am really rooting for them to get a result in the home leg and stay in the Prem.

    Come on Leicester, like last year please prove all doubters wrong. Even if they lose and its not drumming and they stay up its still a great year for them

  • Comment posted by TGC, at 14:33 23 Feb 2017

    Great result even if they were clearly outplayed. Remember, English football in general is no where near top now, so be pleased you got further than Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool, Spurs and quite possibly Arsenal too... Ignore any negative comments on here and get behind the team for the home leg.

  • Comment posted by Tom, at 13:54 23 Feb 2017

    Big heart? So does my dog and he's cr*p at football in all.

  • Comment posted by Hawkisaurus, at 11:40 23 Feb 2017

    It would be foolish to read too much into a single game. Everything now depends on how Ranieri can keep motivating his players, and his players motivating each other. The clock is ticking, there is still time for them to turn this unusual season of theirs around, and I for one hope that they do.

  • Comment posted by User0004010575, at 12:24 23 Feb 2017

    Messi nor Ronaldo would have had the same effect on Leicester that Kante did last year. Whilst a whole team of players all peaked at once, Kante is a truly remarkable player and facilitating Leicester to win the EPL would rank as a greater achievement than Messi helping Argentina to win the world cup, which has never happenned. Still if Ranieri makes some brave decisions we could still stay up !

  • Comment posted by maze, at 12:33 23 Feb 2017

    No point having a big heart if you dont have the soul. This Leicester team lacks a soul.

  • Comment posted by Mordor Tourism Board, at 12:44 23 Feb 2017

    Sevilla are a very decent team with a good manager. Last night was a very good result and gives Leicester a bit of a chance of getting through.

    How bizarre would it be if Leicester got through the last 8 with Arsenal almost certainly out in the last 16?

    Irrespective of what happens in the CL, PL survivor is a must.

  • Comment posted by Fidelis Andria, at 11:54 23 Feb 2017

    A reasonable result for Leicester in the current circumstances. All the snide anti-Foxes comments on this thread - from supporters of nothing teams who have won the square root of not very much over the past few years - are pretty pathetic.

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