Leicester Boss Claudio Ranieri Admits Focus Has Been On Champions League After Club Brugge Win

Richard Heathcote / Getty Images

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has admitted that his players’ focus may have been predominantly on the Champions League so far this season, 90min reports.

Shinji Okazaki and Riyad Mahrez’s first half goals were enough to see off Club Brugge and confirm Leicester’s progression to the last 16 as group winners on Tuesday night.

A second half fightback from the Belgian side created some nerves, but the Foxes held on to make more club history.

Ranieri, while expressing his pride at the achievement, made sure to point out that improvements need to be made domestically.

“Very happy for the club, Chairman, the lads, our fans,” Ranieri said – via the Daily Express.

“We’re on another journey. I don’t know where, but we’re excited!

“We started well, we pressed, scored twice and kept possession. But after they scored we lost our way a little.

“Maybe we have been more concentrated in the Champions League. Now the group is won, it’s important to come back in the Premier League.”

Leicester have won more games in the Champions League this season (4) than they have in the Premier League (3).

On tour. pic.twitter.com/cs0hAfdihR

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 22, 2016

The win means that Leicester now have more points from five Champions League games than they do from twelve Premier League games this season.

After consecutive league defeats against West Brom and Watford respectively, the Champions host newly promoted Middlesbrough on Saturday looking to move away from the relegation zone.

The draw for the first knockout stage of the Champions League will take place on Monday December 12, with Leicester’s final group game at runners-up Porto now meaningless.