Claudio Ranieri insists Tottenham Hotspur, closely followed by Arsenal, remain favourites in the Premier League title race despite Leicester City‘s two-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
The Foxes host West Bromwich Albion at the King Power Stadium this evening and head into the game knowing that another win will move them five points clear of Spurs, who face West Ham United, and eight clear of Arsenal, who must beat Swansea City this week.
In what is being thought of as either an example of mind games or an attempt to deflect pressure away from this season’s surprise package, Ranieri has insisted that his side are still not the favourites for the title, instead naming their rivals, Spurs, Arsenal and Manchester City, as most likely to lift the championship.
“I think Tottenham and then Arsenal are favourites,” Ranieri told journalists, reports the Mirror. “Tottenham is strong in every situation, when they defend, when they attack – they know very well what they want.
“Everybody is speaking about Leicester and nobody is speaking about Tottenham. Tottenham in my opinion is the favourites, then Arsenal and City.
“I understand, we are the surprise and have good energy. But if we are realistic you say Leicester make a fantastic season but the real competitors are City, Arsenal and Tottenham.
“Tottenham are the best team we have faced this season.”
Leicester have stunned everybody this season with their run to the summit of the Premier League. It started out as a surprise to see them so high as everyone expected Ranieri’s side to fall away. However, victories in recent weeks against Liverpool and away to Man City have cemented their position at the top of the table.
With only 11 games left to play, the Foxes find themselves leading the league but their Italian manager – who has been in a similar situation with Chelsea in 2003/04 – has attempted to switch the pressure from his player’s shoulders over to north London, where the chasers hope to close the gap this week.
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