Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has joked that the UEFA Champions League theme woke up Riyad Mahrez, after the Algerian performed strongly in the Foxes first group stage win.
Making their debut in the competition the Premier League champions got off to the best possible start with a 3-0 away win to Club Brugge.
Ranieri said he was delighted for Mahrez following the match, who scored a brace against the Belgian side.
“It was good because he scored twice, including a fantastic free-kick, and he worked so hard,” he told the media.
“Maybe he is tired of hearing dilly ding, dilly dong all the time.
“Now we have to stay calm and put our mind to the next match on Saturday [at home to Burnley].”
The phrase “dilly ding, dilly dong” was used by the Italian throughout the duration of last season in a bid to “wake up” his players when they had been, or were doing something wrong.
The victory sees the Foxes off to a strong start in a group many believe they can escape from.
“For us it is very tough to play against teams with very good experience, like Brugge, FC Porto and FC Copenhagen,” Ranieri added in an interview with BBC Radio.
“It’s not easy but it’s OK. We started well, and that gives us confidence.”
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