FC Copenhagen 0, Leicester City 0: Claudio Ranieri warns against complacency as Foxes move to cusp of Champions League last 16
Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri has urged his side to guard against complacency despite a stalemate against Danish title-holders FC Copenhagen nudging them ever closer to the Champions League knockout phase.
The Foxes are still to concede a goal in Europe’s premier club competition but were indebted to goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel for pulling off a late save to deny ex-Cardiff striker Andreas Cornelius and keeping the scoreline level.
A draw kept Leicester top of Group G, three points clear of Porto, while the Midlands club need just a point from their remaining two fixtures to seal their place in the last 16. Next up on 22 November is a home tie against bottom side Club Brugge.
“This is the first time we play in the Champions League and we want to be very, very attentive until the end,” said Ranieri. “But I am happy. The first 20-30 minutes were not very good for us but we were waiting for this type of performance.
“Copenhagen push a lot and try to make a lot of crosses but we closed very well the crosses and Schemichel didn’t make very many saves, only at the end which was a very great save. He is a great keeper.”
Leicester’s best chance fell to the winger Jeffrey Schlupp although his deflected effort was comfortably dealt with by Copenhagen goalkeeper Robin Olsen in what proved a lacklustre encounter.
But just as he did in the corresponding fixture a fortnight ago, Schmeichel came to Leicester’s rescue with an impressive late save to thwart Cornelius. Ranieri’s charges are the first team in history to keep a clean sheet in each of their first four Champions League games.