Claudio Ranieri remains modest and sets sights on Champions League place

Top of the table Leicester City play 18th-placed Sunderland on 10 April, with the chance to extend their seven point lead over second-placed Tottenham. Throughout the season, as Leicester has delivered outstanding performances, manager Claudio Ranieri has told reporters that he concentrates on the next game ahead, whatever it is, and lets points, tables and places take care of themselves.

Now the Premier League teams are down to their last six or seven games Ranieri refuses to speculate about winning the Premier League. But the Italian did allow himself to covert a top-four place in the Premier League and the place in the Champions League that comes with it.

Asked if he expected Tottenham to win their last six matches, Ranieri told reporters on 8 April: "I expect Tottenham, Arsenal, everybody, and then I want to fight to achieve the Champions League. It will be a fantastic achievement."

Ranieri said he was concentrating on the Sunderland match exclusively and had no time to think about what Tottenham might do when they play Manchester United a few hours after Leicester's match.

"But for us it is important, our performance. That is really important for us because Sunderland are desperate. And then it will be a big battle, a big battle," Ranieri said.

The Leicester manager did have the chance to give his opinion of Italian national coach Antonio Conte, who has been announced as the new Chelsea manager after the Euro 2016 tournament.

"I think he brings character, knowledge, he is a good idea and I think it will be a very interesting season next season," said Ranieri.