Fernandinho hails Claudio Ranieri impact at Leicester City

Fernandinho of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League Group D match between Manchester City and Juventus at the Etihad Stadium on September 15, 2015
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Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho claims that Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri has been "the difference" for the Foxes this season.

Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho has claimed that Claudio Ranieri should take most of the credit for 'organising' Leicester City into Premier League title contenders.

The Foxes currently boast a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League ahead of Sunday's clash with West Ham United, where a win would move them 10 points clear of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

Fernandinho, whose Man City team are out of the title race in fourth position, has said that Ranieri has been "the difference" for Leicester, with the Italian "living many things in football".

"I think the difference about Leicester this year compared to last year was the coach that they hired," he told Omnisport. "He is an experienced coach, who has lived many things in football and I think that was the main difference.

"They were a team that were struggling to not fall last season and this year, [heading into] the end of the championship with a realistic chance for the title. In my opinion it was the coach who organised the tactical part."

Man City, who are still far from certain of a top-four finish this season, currently sit 15 points behind Leicester ahead of their trip to Chelsea on Saturday night.

Claudio Ranieri, Manager of Leicester City during the Pre Season Friendlly match between Lincoln City and Leicester City at Sincil Bank Stadium on July 21, 2015
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1Leicester CityLeicester342110359332673
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs341911464253968
3Manchester CityMan City34187962342861
4Arsenal33179756342260
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd34178942301259
6West Ham UnitedWest Ham341414657431456
7Liverpool33159956431354
8Southampton341491145351051
9Stoke CityStoke34138133747-1047
10Chelsea331111114945444
11Everton34914115348541
12Watford34118153340-741
13Bournemouth34118154157-1641
14West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom331010133140-940
15Swansea CitySwansea341010143445-1140
16Crystal Palace35109163645-939
17Norwich CityNorwich3487193560-2531
18Sunderland3379173957-1830
19Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3478193662-2629
RAston Villa3437242365-4216