Leicester need to play more like a team – Ranieri

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri was disappointed with his side’s teamwork as they began their title defence with a 2-1 defeat to newly promoted Hull City on the opening day of the Premier League season.

Leicester dominated for large periods of the game and Ranieri feels they need to be more clinical in front of goal.

The Italian believes they’re only operating at 70 percent of their capabilities and he’s adamant his team will lose more games than last season.

“It was a difficult match for us. We started well, we created chances to score a goal but at the end of the first half we conceded a goal after a corner. They were smarter than us. We were going to draw the match and we made a little mistake when we lost the ball on the halfway line.

“The match was decided on this because after we got nervous, we want to draw and of course Hull played very, very compact, playing counter-attack. We made a big effort but it was individual effort, not like a team,” Ranieri told .

The Foxes face Arsenal next Saturday and the 64-year-old thinks their performance is more important than the result against Arsene Wenger’s side.

“We have to come back, next up is Arsenal, a fantastic team, runners up last season but now they’re one of the favourites for the Premier League. We must be together, we must play together. It’s not important the result, it’s important how we play,” he added.

“It’s the first match, it’s OK, it’s normal when I said we are 70 percent and we have to grow up. Against Manchester (United), we played as a team well. Today there was a big effort but not together. I think this was the key of the match.

“I said this year would be harder, we will lose a little more than last season. That’s normal but it’s important to fight together, to go back as a team, that is my philosophy. I can say thank you to my players because they fought amazingly.