Ranieri: Rivals don’t believe we can win the title

Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea may have to see off competition from Leicester City if they are to sign West Bromwich Albion forward Saido Berahino.

“So far they deserve full credit for them”, he said.

Spurs are expected to make a number of changes to the team that started Sunday’s high-scoring draw, including recalling Dele Alli, Harry Kane, Hugo Lloris and Jan Vertonghen.

Villa had a great chance to win for the first time under Remi Garde at the weekend, but they could not overcome League Two side Wycombe Wanderers and will have to beat them in a replay later this month if they are to progress in the FA Cup. We had lots of corners too, we had to do more with them. It seems the Gunners have finally found the way to deal with pressure and have developed a very mature mind among a team that has both young and experience in it.

“I am frustrated by the result and not disappointed by the performance even if we started a bit apprehensively”, the Arsenal manager said.

His team dominated possession and created most of the chances, but the visitors always looked unsafe with their counter-attacking style and Pochettino hinted at a naivety among his squad. “Sometimes you need a bit of luck”, said the Italian. “We were missing something at set-pieces and we had chances to score”.

Tottenham still occupies the last Champions League qualifying spot, but its grip on fourth place in the league is loosening – with West Ham now just one point behind in fifth.

Mauricio Pochettino praised the “big effort” from his Tottenham players despite the defeat to Leicester.

“It’s only January, it’s not May”. “The only way to sort that out is to work hard, keep going and be ready for the next few games”. This is a insane, crazy league this year. I know the next match may be tougher than Tottenham. We didn’t win against Everton, but we didn’t lose either.

Ranieri, who says he still laughs when people ask him if Leicester can win the league, suggested that 79 points might be enough to claim the title. “Now we are getting the results”, added the Jamaica worldwide.

Chelsea, attempting to win consecutive league matches for the first time this season, twice led, but Cesar Azpilicueta’s opener was cancelled out by Craig Gardner and Gareth McAuley’s own goal was followed by a second equaliser from James McClean. “Good. Third match in a row with a clean sheet, I am very very glad”.