Riyad Mahrez has hit out at Leicester City critics who suggested that the players went behind Claudio Ranieri’s back to get him sacked.
Mahrez said that the players have not forgotten the Italian’s influence in their historic title win.
Leicester were struggling with relegation threat before Ranieri was axed by the Foxes bosses – and his assistant Craig Shakespeare has since guided the club to three consecutive wins in all competition.
The King Power Stadium outfit overcame a one goal deficit to beat Sevilla and enter the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Critics have pointed out that Leicester stars started performing only after the Italian was sacked, but Mahrez dismissed the criticism.
“The people [who] are not inside the club [and are] not very involved in what’s happening here, they can’t judge, just because they were a footballer,” Mahrez said.
“When you’re not in the club or in the dressing room – you can’t know everything – but maybe it’s their job to speak and I don’t mind.”
“We know what we achieved with Claudio. Now the club has decided to sack him and we have to respect it and go forward. But we don’t forget Claudio.”
Mahrez also praised Shakespeare’s attitute and impact since taking-over.
“Shaky has stayed the same,” he said. “I like that about him, that he didn’t change because he became the manager.”
“He has always been working hard for the team – even when he was the assistant – and we are happy with him.”