Claudio Ranieri: Football is crazy. But I am happy, says Leicester boss

Leicester City ensured they will be top at Christmas

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Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri insists he will not start thinking about his side's Barclays Premier League title chances until April despite a 3-2 win at Everton ensuring they will be top for Christmas.

Five of the last six teams to top the table on December 25 went on to become champions and despite the Foxes' unlikely stay at the top, Ranieri is not getting carried away.

Riyad Mahrez scored a penalty in each half to make it 2-1 after Romelu Lukaku's eighth goal in as many matches briefly equalised but Shinji Okazaki added the third and Kevin Mirallas' late strike could not force a draw.

"I am very, very honest. If we stay there at the end of April, I will think about the title. Now I just enjoy it," the Italian said.

"That is football. Football is crazy. If it is crazy in this way, I am very happy."

Asked if he would enjoy his Christmas, Ranieri added: "With the turkey, very good. No lasagne, (it's) too heavy. But no clean sheet (means) no pizza.

"We are on a good run and are in good form. Today was a difficult match, Everton are a good team and they move the ball so quickly.

"We were very concentrated to not allow them much space. In the first half we didn't react well. In the second we were much better."

The Premier League's 15-goal leading scorer Jamie Vardy did not add to his tally but had a hand in all three goals before he was replaced late on by Leonard Ulloa.

Ranieri said there was no problem with the England international, saying: "He's a little tired but it's nothing serious and I put Ulloa on to keep possession."

Everton boss Roberto Martinez was unhappy with how his side conceded three goals at home and was particularly frustrated with the award of the first penalty when Ramiro Funes Mori fouled Okazaki, with the Leicester forward appearing to offer little threat.

"They are decisions you rely on the referee. The first penalty we need to do better, it is an action you ask the referee to make a decision as there is contact but is it a penalty?" he said.

"It is a decision you can understand both ways but from our point of view it is unnecessary to allow the referee to call that.

"He is going away from goal and we are in a good position and it was not a threatening action. We should have been more cool about defending that.

"The second one is a typical action: the striker (Vardy) sees the goalkeeper, looks for the contact and clearly there is contact.

"The referee needs to be very experienced to try to understand the player - I don't think Jamie Vardy has control of the ball and invites the contact and 90 percent of the time those actions are not given.

"The throw-in before the third goal could have been a handball - but we cannot rely on referee's decision, we need to be better on all three goals.

"It is not a time to blame the unfortunate action of the referee, we need to be better."

PA