Claudio Ranieri tells fans to keep dreaming, Defoe keeps Sunderland above water, Andy Murray through to Madrid final and a warning for Barcelona.
SUNDAY MORNING'S BIG STORIES 1- Ranieri tells fans to 'keep dreaming' as Leicester crowned Premier League champions
![Leicester City's Italian manager Claudio Ranieri kisses the premier league trophy]()
![Fabio Borini celebrates with Jermain Defoe]()
![Andy Murray in action v Rafa Nadal, Madrid Masters 2016]()
As the club and city celebrated the crowning of Leicester as champions of England, manager Claudio Ranieri has told fans to keep dreaming of what next season may bring.
Leicester City's Italian manager Claudio Ranieri kisses the premier league trophy - AFP
Celebrations went well through the day and into the night, as Leicester claimed the trophy they had won mid-week after their 3-1 victory over Everton. Ranieri was soaked in champagne by full back Christian Fuchs during his post-game press conference, while Andrea Bocelli performed for Leicester fans before kick-off after promising he would if the club went on to become champions.
But even as the day was a remarkable reflection on a season that was, Ranieri looked ahead and told the BBC about the challenges that lay ahead.
"We know very well that next season, everything will be different.
"But the fans are dreaming. Keep dreaming, why wake up?"
Raineri also said he wouldn't stand in the way of his star players leaving the club, but was adamant they would stay anyway.
"If they are intelligent, they stay with us another year.
"They know the Champions League is very difficult, and then after this next experience, they can go. But if they ask me, I say 'stay with me'. But if someone comes to me and says 'I'd like to go', I say go. Because I want only happy players with me."
2- Defoe lauds special goal as Sunderland crawl out of the relegation zone
Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe lauded the club's 3-2 heart-stopping victory over Chelsea, as the club is now one point clear of the relegation zone with one game to play.
Fabio Borini celebrates with Jermain Defoe - Reuters
Defoe scored the final goal in the 70th minute, as the club were 2-1 down at half time. Fabio Borini brought the game back to an even affair, before Defoe three minutes later dragged his team in to the lead and potentially out of the drop zone.
Defoe took his tally to 15 to the season, and reaffirmed just what he was brought to the club to do.
"To win the game like that was special," he said after the match.
"It's been a while since I scored at home but, as a forward, it doesn't matter where you score - it's important that you score."
3- Murray in confident display books place in Madrid Open final
Andy Murray feels he's "going back in the right direction again", after his 6-3 7-6 (7-4) victory over Rafael Nadal booked a place in the Madrid Open final.
Andy Murray in action v Rafa Nadal, Madrid Masters 2016 - Reuters
Murray kept momentum at crucial points in the match, winning numerous rallies when Nadal threatened in the first set by breaking Murray's serve. Murray won eight aces and saved 11 of 13 break points in the victory, who will now go on and play world number one Novak Djokovic in the final.
After consecutive early defeats in Miami and Indian Wells tournaments, Murray was happy with the way his form had began to turn around.
"To beat him in Spain on a clay court is obviously a big challenge. It's a big step for me where I was four or five weeks ago."
SHARING IS CARING - TODAY'S VIRAL GEMS
Most of the Premier League would advise this is a warning Barcelona should take very seriously.
SUNDAY'S CAN'T MISS ACTION
- FOOTBALL - UEFA European Under 17 Championships: Portugal vs Scotland - LIVE ON EUROSPORT 2 from 12:15
Join us just after midday for the all the action between Portugal and Scotland, live and exclusive on Eurosport 2.
- CYCLING - Giro d'Italia - Stage 3: Nijmegen - Arnhem - LIVE ON EUROSPORT 1 from 13:30
The 190km stage 3 of the Giro d'Italia kicks off in the early afternoon, with German leader Marcel Kittel hoping to extend his lead.
- FOOTBALL - Premier League: Manchester City vs Arsenal - from 16:00
Champions League football is far from confirmed for Manchester City, with United now just one point behind them in fifth. Can they rise out of their form slump to defeat Arsenal and give Pep a shot at Champions League next year?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Juventus veteran Andrea Barzagli turns 35 today. Barzagli was a late bloomer, spending the first 6 years of his career toiling in the lower leagues of Italy before make a name for himself at Palermo. He then moved on to Wolfsburg and then Juventus in 2011, winning 5 consecutive titles with the club and making the Serie A team of the year three times. Happy birthday, Andrea.
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