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Claudio Ranieri

LEICESTER. — Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has underscored the unpredictable nature of the English Premier League this soccer season, stating that it seemed as if “nobody wants to win the league”.

Ranieri’s side failed to regain top spot after a goalless draw at home against Manchester City on Tuesday night, which kept Leicester behind Arsenal only on goal difference.

The surge of smaller teams as well as sides eyeing a maiden league triumph have opened up the league at the halfway stage.

Tottenham Hotspur, in with a chance of winning their first title, are placed fourth while Crystal Palace, who finished 10th last season, are at fifth spot.

Promoted side Watford too have put their hat in the top-half mix, placed eighth, after stitching up four wins on the trot.

“This league is very crazy. I think the big teams have to stay at a high level, but sometimes it means nobody wants to win the league — it’s very strange this league,” Ranieri told BT Sport after the City game.

“It’s not easy for us but we want to fight with everybody. It’s a miracle what we are doing.”

Despite dropping points at home, the Italian was happy with his team’s performance against City, particularly after Saturday’s defeat against Liverpool.

“I’m very pleased but I’m also very pleased with a clean sheet against these great champions (City). I think we showed a very good performance and after the Liverpool defeat we’ve played so well,” Ranieri told the club’s website.

Ranieri also insisted that he went for a win against City.

“I saw in the second half we can do something better. Win or lose for me it was the same and the team responded very well. I wanted to put on another striker to try to win,” added Ranieri, whose side host Bournemouth next on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Manchester City could be without captain Vincent Kompany for up to four weeks with the calf injury that kept him out of Tuesday night’s goalless draw at Leicester.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini revealed that the Belgian centre-back faces another lengthy spell on the sidelines after limping off during the 4-1 Boxing Day win against Sunderland.

Kompany had made his comeback as a substitute against the Black Cats after six weeks out with another calf injury and he watched the draw with the Foxes from the stands at the King Power Stadium.

“Vincent has an injury, a second degree of his calf,” Pellegrini said.

“It’s not the same injury, the same calf but in a different part. I am not a doctor but normally a muscle injury of less than three or four weeks is very difficult, especially in the calf.

“We hope that he can recover as soon as he can but it’s very important until we solve this to defend the way we did in this game.” Pellegrini’s side moved to within three points of leaders Arsenal with a point at Leicester while the home side went level on points with the Gunners at the season’s halfway point.

But Manchester City are now without a win in six away games in the English Premier League – a record that has prevented them building fully on their flying start to the season.

They dominated long spells of the first half against Leicester but were unable to find a goal and found themselves forced back by the home side after the break.

Pellegrini said: “I don’t divide games that we play into home and away.

“We have a season and it’s important to have the amount of points you need to win the title.

“We need to win but we are the best team at home.

“In the second half of the season we will keep improving and if you ask me if I’m happy, I say yes because we are near the top of the table.

“We had more possession and attempts than Leicester and did more to win the game, but if you can’t win it’s important not to lose.

“We were very solid and defended well against a difficult team.

“I’m not happy but I’m not disappointed either because we played well but didn’t score.” — Reuters-AFP.