Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri has urged his players to prepare themselves for a long battle following their difficult start to the new Premier League season.
The Foxes produced one of football's most memorable moments by winning the title last campaign, but Ranieri's men have so far failed to put up a strong enough defence of their crown having collected just 13 points from 14 games this term.
"It's difficult. We miss everything. Everything last season was right, starting with luck; this season, everything is wrong," Ranieri told BBC Sport after the club's recent 2-1 defeat to Sunderland.
"But we must continue to work hard and maintain the right balance in ourselves, believe in ourselves. The battle is long, but that's football, sport."
The club's poor start to the season means that they currently sit in 15th place in the standings with just two points separating them from the relegation zone.
Written by
Christopher Dodd
Christopher Dodd
