PORT STORM NO PROBLEM FOR RANIERI
CLAUDIO RANIERI claims he will not interfere with Jamie Vardy’s bizarre pre-match drinking habits. The England striker has revealed he drinks port the night before a game and then has three cans of Red Bull and a double espresso on a match day. But Vardy has been given a “swig while you’re winning” thumbs-up to his unique preparation. Ranieri says while the club doctors and nutritionist might have a different take on it, he is keeping his nose out. The 29-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise from non-League to the Three Lions team and was top scorer in the Foxes’ historic surge to the title last season. Ranieri said: “I think it’s superstition, nothing more. When they train well and play well, I’m happy.”
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Writing in his autobiography called Jamie Vardy: From Nowhere, My Story, the hitman explained: “I can’t say why it started, but I decided to drink a glass of port on the eve of every game in the 2015-16 season. “I’m not superstitious but from the moment I scored against Sunderland on the opening day, I didn’t want to change.” But Ranieri, whose side entertain Southampton tomorrow, said: “As long as they train well when I see them on the pitch, I don’t have a problem. Whether port is good for you the day before, the doctor will have to decide.” Ranieri agreed that Vardy’s story was an inspiration but said that he was not a special case. He added: “I don’t believe port can do any more harm than a glass of wine.”