FA Community Shield: Claudio Ranieri says Jose Mourinho wins titles, but challenges old enemy at Wembley
Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has warned Manchester United ahead of their Community Shield match at Wembley. Claudio Ranieri, will be meeting his old foe after having beaten the Chelsea side 2-1 last December which was also Jose Mourinho’s last game before getting sacked.
Jose Mourinho believes they have entered game mode despite a lack of pre-season and is expected to launch his transfer recruits into winning the Shield.
Ahead of the Community Shield on Sunday, Claudio Ranieri has expressed confidence in his Leicester side that has seen no changes except one, of N’Golo Kante. Yet, he believes the team is ready to replicate their dark horse performance which made them Premier League champions last season.
He further spoke about Jose Mourinho and the ‘big’ Manchester United side has his respect, however, that doesn’t affect their desire to beat them.
Also Read: Jose Mourinho sets 'unrealistic target' for Manchester United - win the Premier League title
On asked if they feel the pressure after seemingly unconvincing pre-season results, which includes two back-to-back losses, Ranieri said, "We are used to living with the pressure and without pressure we are not the same. I expect to meet a very strong team that are very well organised, with big champions on the pitch. It's normal. Jose always tries to win and his career speaks for itself.
Ranieri continued further, inspiring his players to give their best and issuing a warning to Manchester United, “I work with the same intensity and the same confidence and the same attitude as always. No less and no more. It is my job to make sure the players have the same hunger. We try to do our best in every match.
“These players worked so hard to achieve this great match at Wembley. We know very well that we are the champions but we are the underdogs. We have a lot of respect for all the teams but of course we want to beat everybody. This is my philosophy and of the players. I feel something good coming from my players.”
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Jose Mourinho, meanwhile, did not respond to his history with Ranieri. Although, he spoke about his team and focused on the target of winning trophies. He said, "We need minutes for the players. Now we have Leicester and it is not a training session. It is a game.
“We have six changes, not three, so that gives me the chance to give minutes to some people, players who I know cannot have the condition to play 90 (minutes). We will try to do a little bit of everything."
Jose Mourinho replaced Claudio Ranieri at Chelsea in his first time as manager at Stamford Bridge. Both the managers met a few years later in the Serie A, when Mourinho’s Inter Milan beat Ranieri’s Juventus to the title, until their rivalry resumed in the Premier League last season and now again.
Manchester United have won the Community Shield the maximum number of times. They’ve won it 20 times while the second-best by any team is 16 number of times.