Claudio Ranieri admits he felt “surprise even more than bitterness” at the Leicester City sack. “It was a shock. I’d never experienced anything like that.”
The Italian tactician received a special award yesterday and today spoke to inmates at the Rebibbia prison in Rome.
“Thinking of the dismissal by Leicester, the first thing that comes to mind is a sense of surprise even more than of bitterness,” said Ranieri, who was axed nine months after winning the Premier League.
Claudio Ranieri admits he felt “surprise even more than bitterness” at the Leicester City sack. “It was a shock. I’d never experienced anything like that.”
The Italian tactician received a special award yesterday and today spoke to inmates at the Rebibbia prison in Rome.
“Thinking of the dismissal by Leicester, the first thing that comes to mind is a sense of surprise even more than of bitterness,” said Ranieri, who was axed nine months after winning the Premier League.
“I had gone through a lot in my long career, but I’d never experienced anything like that. It was a shock. Even though, at the end of the day, these things happen in football.
“This is my world. I started coaching in the Interregionale league in Catanzaro. There were pitches with no grass, at times we had no water, no training equipment. I had to do it all myself.
“I never hitched my wagon to anyone, so what I achieved over the years was done with only my results on the field.”
Ranieri was on the stage in this Q&A with the Mayor of Amatrice, who are trying to rebuild after the devastating earthquake.
“He is the real giant,” noted Ranieri. “I am just a Coach who had the good fortune to win a title with a fantastic adventure and then the disappointment of what happened afterwards.
“We achieved something remarkable by winning with Leicester and I hope that Amatrice can live their own fairy-tale.”
Leicester City started getting results together again after Ranieri was sacked, but he refused to answer questions about that.
“Sky Sports in England asked me to commentate on a game on April 10 and I accepted. I don’t want to talk about it until then. It all started in England, so it seems right to resume in England.”