PELL: MY PLAYERS’ TRUST IS ALL GONE
Winger Gray says Prem rivals are SCARED of red-hot Leicester mounting another title charge
DEMARAI GRAY claims Leicester’s red-hot form has got the Premier League worried once more.
The Foxes made it four top-flight wins on the spin when they beat Arsenal 2-0 on Saturday.
They boast the Premier League’s top scorer in Jamie Vardy, with 11, and have the best defensive record in the division.
Leicester’s run of games after the international break sees them take on Brighton, Everton, Watford,
Aston Villa and Norwich – a sequence that could see them close the gap on leaders
Liverpool. Hopes are now growing in the East Midlands that the shock 2016 champions could mount another unlikely title bid. And Foxes forward Gray is urging them to keep up the pressure on Liverpool. Gray (below) said: “We have the quality to beat any team and I think you can see our spirit. We have characters in this team so when we’re all together we’re a tough team to face whether we go home or away. “I think everyone will fear us now. “We want to give opponents the impression that it’s never
RIYAD MAHREZ admits he found it mentally “difficult to live with” not being one of Pep Guardiola’s main men last season.
The Manchester City winger (left) was the club’s record signing when he made going to be easy against us.”
Since winning the title in 2016, Leicester have finished 12th, ninth and ninth again. But their impressive defeat of Arsenal saw them end the weekend in second spot, eight points behind Liverpool
“Everyone can see we’re playing proper football,” Gray added.
“It’s important we got the win before the international break. The boys worked hard and we deserved it.”
The 23-year-old credits the work boss Brendan Rodgers has done on the training ground for turning them around.
He added: “We attack properly and defend properly and I think that’s where a £60million move from Leicester in July 2018.
Despite not playing regularly last season, the former Foxes star went on to win the Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria and has made the 30-man Ballon we’re evolving as a team. It’s from the training ground. The gaffer gives us all the information and we’ve just got to put it in place on the pitch.”
Gray has come off the bench in Leicester’s last four games to make an impact and admits he cannot complain about not starting.
“Whether it’s starting or off the bench, I’ve just got to try to help the team and do what I do,” he said.
“My game is to make things happen and do whatever I can to help get the ball in the net.
“I want to start games but I understand how it is, the team’s doing well.
“All I care about is the three points and climbing up the table.”
Liverpool Leicester Chelsea Man City Sheff Utd Arsenal Man Utd Wolves Bournemouth Burnley Brighton C Palace Newcastle Tottenham Everton West Ham Aston Villa Watford Southampton Norwich
P W D L F APts 12 11 1 0 28 10 34 12 8 2 2 29 8 26 12 8 2 2 27 17 26 12 8 1 3 35 13 25 12 4 5 3 13 9 17 12 4 5 3 16 17 17 12 4 4 4 16 12 16 12 3 7 2 16 15 16 12 4 4 4 15 15 16 12 4 3 5 17 18 15 12 4 3 5 15 17 15 12 4 3 5 10 16 15 12 4 3 5 11 18 15 12 3 5 4 18 17 14 12 4 2 6 13 18 14 12 3 4 5 14 20 13 12 3 2 7 17 20 11 12 1 5 6 8 23 8 12 2 2 8 11 29 8 12 2 1 9 11 28 7
LAST FOUR RESULTS Oct 19 beat Burnley 2-1 Oct 25 beat Saints 0-9 Nov 3 beat Palace 0-2 Nov 9 beat Arsenal 2-0
Nov 23 Brighton (a) Dec 1 Everton (h) Dec 4 Watford (h) Dec 8 Aston Villa (a) with Algeria. I said to myself, ‘Go for it, at one moment Pep will need you’.”
And Mahrez, 28, insists he has a good relationship with Guardiola (left). “I love meetings with the coach because we constantly learn,” he added.
MANUEL PELLEGRINI has admitted his struggling West Ham players no longer trust each other.
But the under-fire Hammers boss has vowed to rebuild their shattered confidence and help them save their season as he clings on to his job.
After an alarming seven-game winless run, Pellegrini’s West Ham bosses want a return to form.
The 66-year-old (top) said: “We will try to recover the trust as a team and I am sure the results will come.
“We need to work on the confidence of all the players.”
After backing the Hammers manager to the tune of over £150million so far in the transfer market, West Ham will not bankroll another big January spend.
And concerns have been raised about some of his signings, including calamity keeper Roberto (above), who scored an own goal in Saturday’s 3-0 loss at Burnley, and £25m forward Pablo Fornals.