Claudio Ranieri Believes Leicester Are In ‘The Battle Of Relegation’

Leicester City

Islam Slimani’s injury-time penalty rescued a 2-2 draw against Middlesbrough to leave the Foxes with just one win in their last eight league games.

Alvaro Negredo’s double twice put Boro ahead and looked to have given the visitors a deserved victory, despite Riyad Mahrez equalising from the spot in the first half, before Marten De Roon fouled Wes Morgan in the box and Slimani scored.

The Foxes, who won a shock title by 10 points last season, are two points above the bottom three and, while Ranieri maintains he is unconcerned, Leicester must be aware of their situation.

He said: “For us now it’s important to think we are in the battle of relegation and every point is OK. We wanted to win, but when it’s not possible one point after 93 minutes is OK.

“I’m not worried. But I am a very pragmatic man. Now we are (down) there, last season we were very, very far ahead, but I was always looking behind me.

“We must be patient, see what happens, stay together and let’s pass that moment because sooner or later we will go back.”

Negredo ended an 11-game goal drought with a fine first-half finish before a ruthless strike arrowed beyond Ron-Robert Zieler after the break.

Mahrez’s penalty – after Calum Chambers handled having been pushed by Morgan – levelled, but Leicester were second best for long spells.

Shinji Okazaki hit the bar just minutes before Mahrez’s penalty, but Ranieri conceded his side were poor.

“The performance wasn’t good. They played better than us, I am very happy with our character, to believe until the end something good can happen,” he said.

“We showed fantastic spirit. I and my players knew it was a tough match, they played well and kept a lot of possession, but we created more chances.”