Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has urged his side to play like the champions they are.

The Foxes were crowned Premier League winners last week and will parade the trophy through the city’s streets tomorrow evening. They go to last year’s winners Chelsea today for the finale of a season which has seen them go from 5,000-1 outsiders to lifting the title.

And, against his former club, Ranieri wants Leicester to prove they are worthy winners this year.

“(Against Everton) I asked them to show me what we learned during all the season,” he said.

“Always I’ve said the result is not important, but it’s the importance of the performance, how you play.

“Now we are champions, we have to play like champions.

“The answer was fantastic. On Sunday (today), I don’t want the result, I want to see my players show the same attitude and I am happy.”

Chelsea are expected to give the Foxes a guard of honour before the game – bringing back memories for Ranieri of when he left Stamford Bridge in 2004.

He was leaving after four years in charge and remembers how the players gave him an emotional send-off.

The Italian said: “My players gave me a guard of honour. (Marcel) Desailly and (John) Terry called all their team-mates together because they knew my job had finished there.

“That was the first time. I think it was one of the more important moments of my sporting life.

“They did it on the pitch. Gary (Staker, Ranieri’s translator at the time) called me to the centre of the pitch and the players made the guard of the honour so when I turned around I saw, it was really amazing.”

Victory at Stamford Bridge this afternoon would be Ranieri’s 100th in the Premier League and, ahead of his return to west London, he had a message for the home fans.

“I want to thank the Chelsea fans. I watched some of them hold up placards with ‘Do it for Ranieri’ on. It was amazing,” he added.

Premier League

Playing today – all at 16:00
Arsenal vs Aston Villa
Chelsea vs Leicester City
Everton vs Norwich City
Man. United vs Bournemouth
Newcastle vs Tottenham
Southampton vs C. Palace
Stoke City vs West Ham
Swansea City vs Man. City
Watford vs Sunderland
West Brom vs Liverpool

Championship play-offs

Played yesterday (first leg)
Derby County vs Hull City - 0-3

Second leg: Tuesday.

Tomorrow (second leg)
Brighton vs Sheffield Wed - 20.45

Final: May 28

League One play-offs

Played yesterday (first leg)
Barnsley vs Walsall - 3-0

Second leg: Thursday.

Today (first leg)
Bradford City vs Millwall - 13.15

Second leg: Friday.

League Two play-offs

Played yesterday (first leg)
Wimbledon vs Accrington - 1-0

Second leg: Wednesday.

Today (second leg)
Plymouth vs Portsmouth - 19.00

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.