Claudio Ranieri: "Forty points the target" for Leicester City

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri kisses the Premier League trophy on May 8, 2016
© Getty Images
Claudio Ranieri insists that merely staying in the Premier League this season is defending champions Leicester City's first target.

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has declared that "forty points is the target" for his side in the Premier League this season.

The Foxes shocked the footballing world when going all the way last time out and lifting the top-flight crown.

Ranieri famously played down City's hopes of success right up until the final weeks of the season, and he has once again looked to lower growing expectations by claiming that survival is the first priority.

"Forty points, 40 points. Don't laugh," he told reporters. "I will start [the season] with the same philosophy and humility. What Leicester have achieved has been fantastic but now 40 points is the target. Forty points is the target, then we will see how many months less to the end of the season."

Leicester have not enjoyed the finest of pre-season campaigns, having lost to Paris-Saint Germain, Barcelona and Manchester United - the latter coming in Sunday's Community Shield at Wembley.

Claudio Ranieri celebrates at the end of the Premier League game between Watford and Leicester City on March 5, 2016
Read Next:
Ranieri "very pleased" with Leicester
>

CountryGoldGSilverSBronzeBTotal
1 United StatesUnited States16121442
2 ChinaChina1291334
3 JapanJapan721423
4 Great BritainGreat Britain68620
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal00000000
2Bournemouth00000000
3Burnley00000000
4Chelsea00000000
5Crystal Palace00000000
6Everton00000000
7Hull City00000000
8Leicester CityLeicester00000000
9Liverpool00000000
10Manchester CityMan City00000000
11Manchester UnitedMan Utd00000000
12Middlesbrough00000000
13Southampton00000000
14Stoke CityStoke00000000
15Sunderland00000000
16Swansea CitySwansea00000000
17Tottenham HotspurSpurs00000000
18Watford00000000
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom00000000
20West Ham UnitedWest Ham00000000
LIVE SCORES VIDEPRINTER
expand