Ranieri: He showed why we paid so much for him
CLAUDIO RANIERI believed Islam Slimani proved his worth after Leicester’s record signing inspired their 3-0 demolition of Burnley.
The £29million signing arrived from Sporting Lisbon on deadline day with a big reputation and justified it with strikes either side of half-time before Ben Mee scored a late own goal.
The win followed Leicester’s excellent midweek Champions League victory in Bruges and gets the Premier League holders back on track domestically following a 4-1 defeat by Liverpool.
Praising his new striker, as well as the brilliant Riyad Mahrez, Ranieri said: ‘It was good for Slimani and good for everyone.
‘It was a very good performance but he also linked very well with his team-mates. Very well. He pressed so hard during all the match. We bought him for all these characteristics.’
Mahrez’s performances against Bruges and Burnley were a marked improvement on his slow start to the season and Ranieri believes his playmaker is close to his best.
‘Riyad made two fantastic performances in these games and I am very pleased,’ said the Italian. ‘Tactically he was very clever — when to attack, when to defend.
‘He is happy playing with Slimani. Now we are on the left side [the top half] of the table. I am glad.’
Leicester next face Chelsea in the EFL Cup and Kasper Schmeichel is unlikely to be involved after suffering a concussion in training on Friday. Ron-Robert Zieler, the summer signing from Hanover, impressed in place of Schmeichel yesterday. Ranieri said: ‘There was a little incident, a concussion.
‘I don’t know if he will play against Chelsea. Zieler made a good performance and maybe I keep him and leave Kasper to recover better.’