Claudio Ranieri Says 'Pressure Is on the Others' in EPL Title Race

Claudio Ranieri insists all the pressure in this season's Premier League title race rests with his rivals, despite the fact that his Leicester City side lead the division by five points before travelling to Arsenal on Sunday.

The Foxes have made a rise to the head of the English top flight that very few would have predicted, but the club's manager said on Friday his men have no reason to feel burdened by their position, per Goal's Stefan Coerts:

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The pressure's on the others. Tell me why we have pressure? Why must I feel pressure? We just continue to dream with our fans. I think we work so hard to achieve this level. We want to stay at this level. There's no pressure for us.

It's a crazy Premier League. If it was a normal league there would be a big gap but we will fight to maintain our position. This time I hope the bookmakers are right. They're just words though, not points. Give me points!

If Leicester are top of the league then it means there are no easy games in the Premier League. Life's short and it's important to be happy. Lots of people have difficult lives. We must respect each other. I'm a lucky man.

"

Ranieri has an endearing way of putting Leicester's trials into perspective, but the fact remains the club has found itself in a position that few in the organisation may know how to handle.

Nevertheless, the Tinkerman is right in that the Foxes have already performed far outside their expectations this term, while Tottenham Hotspur, second, and Arsenal, third, sit five points back in the title race.

With just two losses from their 25 games so far this season, Leicester are entering the final stretch of what could undoubtedly be the biggest success in the club's history, having never won the top-flight title before.

And Ranieri's players will know a win at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday could potentially see them widen their cushion at the summit. BT Sport provided footage of the manager detailing the last time he beat Wenger's Gunners—while he was in charge of Chelsea in 2004:

Fourth-placed Manchester City play host to Tottenham later on Sunday in what's sure to be a high-octane spell in regards to deciding where this season's Premier League title ends up.

Former Chelsea player and manager Gianluca Vialli told Sky Sports of Ranieri's ability to squeeze the most out of his players, which is hardly a shock given the value he's getting out of his Leicester squad:

The Foxes have reminded the masses that, at its core, football is just 22 players on a pitch vying for the same goal, and whatever tricks he's been working at the King Power Stadium, they appear to be taking effect.

It seems the closer the current leaders get to grasping the Premier League trophy, the more intense the pressure on their shoulders is, but Ranieri has asserted precisely the opposite is true.