LEICESTER CITY ARE STILL UNDERDOGS IN THE TITLE RACE SAYS RANIERI

Leicester city manager Claudio Ranieri says his team remain the underdogs in the Premier League title race, despite their three-point advantage at the top of the table.

"The others are the favourites, not Leicester," said the Italian. "We are still the underdogs.
"Who will win? The strongest team.
"Manchester City are built to win the title and fight for the Champions League. I think the Champions League is their main objective, and I hope they can win.
"Our fans continue to dream, and that is what we want.
"We know it will be another tough match [at Man City]. But from now, to the end, there will only be tough matches.
"Now there is a battle for the title, Europe, and relegation. The window is closed, everyone is improved. I am relaxed because we are having a very good season."
Ranieri is certainly not planning on shutting up shop at the weekend, adding: "It will be an open match, because they want to win, and so do we, to get away.
"Maybe in the end it is a draw, you never know in football!"
A fascinating subplot on Saturday will be the battle between Leicester striker Vardy, who has scored 18 Premier League goals this season, and brilliant City forward Sergio Aguero.

Vardy's incredible campaign continued with a goal-of-the-season contender on Tuesday

Asked which of the duo he would rather have in his team, Ranieri said: "I would have both! They can both play together, it would be fantastic.

"Sergio is a guarantee, no? Every year. This is Jamie's first time. I hope for him and for us, he will be fantastic the next season, and next season, and next season.
"Jamie is playing very well and he links very well with his team-mates - but he must improve."
Vardy is in talks about an improved new contract, which would keep him at the King Power Stadium until 2019.
"I don't ask about this," he said. "It's not my job. I look at him in training and he is doing well, and that's OK.
"I don't think they will resent him. The strikers in every team earn a little more."

Claudio Ranieri was asked to choose between Vardy and Aguero

Vardy scored both goals against Liverpool on Tuesday and Ranieri was still waxing lyrical about the first of them, a first-time volley from long-range.
"It's incredible what Vardy did," said the manager. "He watched the ball, watched the opponent and watched the keeper. It's amazing, fantastic.
"I can put him with Marco Van Basten when he makes a fantastic goal. I don't know if you watched Francesco Totti when he scored against Sampdoria [in 2006]? They are amazing goals."