‘Leicester tough to manage after Ranieri heroics’

Claude Puel feels any manager following title-winning Claudio Ranieri at Leicester would struggle with the weight of expectation.

Ranieri pulled off the seemingly impossible, guiding the Foxes to an incredible Premier League title in 2015-16 when most pundits expected them to be battling against relegation.

Things turned sour the following campaign and the Italian tactician was shown the King Power exit door, much to the disappointment and frustration of fans and ex-players alike.

The 67-year-old then moved to France to manage Nantes before being unveiled as Slavisa Jokanovic’s successor at Fulham last month, and he will welcome his old side to Craven Cottage on Wednesday evening.

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The popular veteran is certain to get a good reception from the travelling fans and Puel confessed that Ranieri’s legacy means that any subsequent coaches at the East Midlands club will always be in his shadow.

“It was not normal to win the title like this,” he said. You need circumstances to align, come together at the same time. Afterwards it’s difficult for people because they think it’s easy to win like that.

“It’s very difficult to manage that situation – to give the fans the same feeling. No-one is prepared for what follows.

“A lot of people think it’s easy to perform and win the title, to play at the top of the table. But this title was early in the development of the club.

“After the title it was difficult for all people to manage that.”