Claudio Ranieri admits he had options to leave Leicester

Claudio Ranieri has revealed he had options to leave the club in the summer

Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri has revealed that he had options to leave the Foxes in the summer after their unlikely title triumph.

Ranieri, 65, oversaw the greatest shock in Premier League history last season as he guided the club to the title, but things have unravelled this year with the club currently just one point above the relegation zone.

Leicester face Sevilla in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Wednesday, and under-fire Ranieri told of his summer options on Tuesday.

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"I could leave last season, I won the title and I had something with other teams but I wanted to stay here because I knew it was a difficult year," said Ranieri.

Leicester have struggled badly in their title defence season

"I came here to build, to build something good for Leicester, for everybody. I keep going, I maintain my mind in this way. I forget the title and I want to achieve something good for the fans, chairman and the city."

Leicester are without a league win in six games and exited the FA Cup to League One Millwall on Saturday ahead of the Champions League tie, but Ranieri has urged his squad to remain in the tie after the first leg in Spain.

Leicester went out in the fifth round of the FA Cup to League One Millwall on Saturday

"Maybe without the heavy league, we have clear minds and we know we are underdogs," added Ranieri. "If you see the last 10 years what Sevilla achieved, they are used to staying up the top but we are ready to fight and play our football. I am confident about a good match tomorrow.

Ranieri is under intense pressure at Leicester, with the club just one point above the drop zone

"I ask my players to stay in the game for 90 plus minutes, to be strong, to help each other. I don't think about Arsenal (and their second-half capitulation at Bayern Munich last week) - I think about Leicester and Sevilla.

"Of course the first match is always important to understand. If we play our football it could be very good match tomorrow."