Leicester: Leicester City have yet to hit the heights that defy odds of 5,000/1 to win the Premier League last season.
But manager Claudio Ranieri is confident it won’t be long before new signings bed in alongside his established stars at the Midlands club.
Leicester began the defence of their title with a shock defeat by newly-promoted Hull City but there were signs of the Foxes’ old form during last week’s goalless draw with Arsenal.
Now Ranieri will hope to see Leicester kick-on at home to Swansea City on Saturday.
Ahmed Musa, the club’s #16.5 million (Dh80 million) record signing, has shown just flashes so far of the talent that convinced Leicester to buy him from CSKA Moscow, while last season’s leading scorer, Jamie Vardy, has yet to find the net this term.
Ranieri, though, is confident that the pair can prosper both individually and as a strike duo.
“They connect well,” said Ranieri. “It is important that Musa understands how we play because the Russian league is very different from English football.
“They play at a slower tempo. The English league is very fast.
“In the last 10 minutes last week he played very well and created lot of chances for us. He must increase his fitness and understanding. He can play together with Vardy.
“We bought Musa because he can play wide, behind the striker as well. It’s a good choice for me during the match,” added former Chelsea manager Ranieri.
Leicester have just last week’s point to show for their first two games after losing to Hull.
Ranieri, though, insists he is not concerned and believes that maintaining last season’s thrilling form was always going to be a difficult task.
“It’s not so stressful,” he said. “It’s good to get points — we’re at home and we want to win.
“But it will be a different game from last season.
“Last season everything we did was fantastic. This season we have to fight a lot to score and win the match,” the Italian explained.
“Last season the wind was behind us and we pushed so well. Everything went well.
“Now is too early to say if wind is behind us.
“Arsenal was important because last season we conceded five goals on the counter-attack.
“This season we covered the counter-attack much better.”
Pre-season signing Nampalys Mendy and winger Jeffrey Schlupp will be sidelined by injuries this week but both are expected to return after the forthcoming international break.
Swansea have one win and one defeat from their two league games so far this season, with their own reshaped squad bedding down.
And long-serving full-back Neil Taylor is among the players facing a new challenge for his place from Stephen Kingsley, the Scotland international youngster who emerged last season as a first-team contender.
Taylor had his first action of the season in a Football League Cup win over Peterborough on Tuesday.
“Every single one of us has a battle on,” he said.
“The manager (Ranieri’s compatriot Francesco Guidolin) has said he wanted two in every position and he’s got that,” explained Taylor.
“There’s strength all over the team in different areas. After losing Ash (Williams) they want to bring in a new centre-half, then you’ll have two everywhere.
“It’s part of football, it’s something you have to do. The younger ones come through — you can’t stop them — we all started somewhere, but it’s good to push each other because it brings the best football out of you.”
