Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has insisted that the 40-point target he has set his side is a serious one.

Ranieri adopted a similar mantra throughout last season until Leicester's Premier League status was all but secured, after which they went on to pull off the most unlikely of title triumphs.

However, the veteran boss hinted that their achievement was a one-off and stressed that they would need to work "very hard" simply to survive in the top flight despite being the defending champions.

"When I say '40 points' a lot of people are laughing but it is true," Ranieri told reporters.

"I think we forget... champions or not champions we know very well last season was something special. Now we are back with feet on the ground and we have to work hard.

"Last season we made something unforgettable, unbelievable and everything was perfect. But football is not perfect."

Leicester began their title defence with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of newly-promoted Hull City on Saturday.