Welcome to Europe.
Leicester City are headed for the Champions League and who better to greet them at the gates than a man who has featured in the competition over 100 times.
Gianluigi Buffon extended one of his famous hands to welcome Claudio Ranieri and his miracle side to Europe after the weekend’s results confirmed their place amongst the continent’s big boys.
A loss for Manchester United and another win for Leicester put the table-toppers 19 points clear of fifth place United who only have six games remaining. Leicester – who survived in the Premier League with an astounding run at the end of last season – have qualified for the Champions League. At least.
Imagine predicting that at the start of the season. Because none of us gave them a hope.
Four of us predicted them to be relegated.
Their fans? Well, they didn’t hold out much hope for the post Pearson era either.
Claudio Ranieri? Really?
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 13, 2015
Amazing how the same old names keep getting a go on the managerial merrygoround http://t.co/ZbvorBXY3G
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 13, 2015
But Leicester have done what only nine other Premier League clubs have managed to do in this century by confirming their finishing spot in the top four.
And what a message their manager and club were sent by Gianluigi Buffon.
#Leicester @lcfc is no more a fairy tale, now is reality. Welcome in Europe Mr. Claudio Ranieri! pic.twitter.com/zIuSijKvyV
— Gianluigi Buffon (@gianluigibuffon) April 11, 2016
