WE SHOWED HEART, SAYS PROUD RANIERI
CLAUDIO RANIERI praised his team’s ‘very big heart’ and Kasper Schmeichel’s saves after Jamie Vardy scored for the first time since December 10 to give Leicester hope of reaching the quarter-finals. Sevilla threatened to swamp Leicester in a first-half onslaught and Ranieri said: ‘The first half was very tough. We were a little scared, nobody wanted to show for the ball and Kasper kept the team alive. Slowly we got better. ‘The second half was much better and we believed we could do something good. When we played our football in our good moment they scored the second goal, but we didn’t give up and then we went back and scored a goal that was important for three things — it gave strength to us, Vardy goes back to scoring goals and it reopens the match in the second leg. ‘We know they are better than us, a very high quality team with a lot of experience. But we have a very big heart. We believed and never gave up. ‘At the end if we are a little more calm on the counterattack we can do something more. With the match at home everything is open, we are ready to battle.’ Schmeichel said: ‘It was tough, we were up against a very good side but going into this we were all hurting about what’s happening this season. ‘We’re disappointed to lose, but on reflection, 2-1 away in the Champions League is a good result. The away goal is massive going back to King Power and anything can happen. It’s a joy to play in these type of games. Everyone ran their socks off. ‘Making saves is what I’m there to do. You have nights like that. We knew we’d have to ride our luck and come up with some saves but everyone deserves credit. We’ve lost the game, we aren’t celebrating, but we’ll take it.’ Vardy celebrated his sixth goal of the season by sucking his thumb in tribute to baby boy Finley, born last month. ‘Everyone worked hard and gave everything,’ said Vardy. ‘The celebration was for Finley, he’s probably asleep but that was for him.’