Leicester City manager Jamie Vardy has backed out of form striker Jamie Vardy, stating that he is unconcerned about the Englishman's recent goal drought.
Vardy has scored just two Premier League goals so far this season, paling in comparison to his electric 2015-16 season, where he ended up with 24 league goals. He has also played in the Champions League, helping the Foxes to the verge of the knockout stages but failing to contribute a single goal or an assist.
Speaking to theLeicester Mercury, Ranieri backed Vardy, claiming the best strikers he has worked with have all experienced dips in form.
"Jamie is a goalscorer and all the goalscorers in the world have good periods and bad periods," Ranieri said.
"It's important for him to stay calm and sooner or later he will start to score again. It's important because I don't see him being nervous, nothing.
"I have worked with some very fantastic strikers “ Batistuta, Careca, Fonseca, Hasselbaink, Zola, Del Piero, big champions always know they can score. They all knew “ It's not possible to score 20 goals every season.
"In his career, Jamie has always scored a lot of goals. The important thing is his job for the team. He is not playing on his own."
Ranieri also claimed Vardy has become the victim of his own success, with teams now wise to the 29-year-old's style of play.
"Yes, it is more difficult. Every team knows him better and will be careful to close down the space," Ranieri continued.
"The big champions know it's very important to stay calm. When I see him on the pitch, I never see him trying do something that says, 'I want to score, I want to dribble here.'
"When you work well, the goals arrive sooner or later."