Mourinho, Conte, And Klopp Have Their Say On Ranieri’s Sacking
Reuters / John Sibley
Leicester City managed to shock the entire world yet again this season, but this time for all the wrong reasons. The Foxes sacked their title-winning boss Claudio Ranieri, and the world of football expressed their shock and disgust on this ruthless decision.
And now, top bosses from the Premier League have had their say on the matter as well.
Jose Mourinho has been one of Ranieri’s biggest supporters since the sacking, after having suffered a similar fate himself, when he was fired by Chelsea a season after winning them the Premier League. The Portuguese posted a supportive post on his Instagram last night, and he continued to speak in the Italian’s support during his press conference today.
Mourinho, who showed up at the conference wearing a t-shirt with Claudio Ranieri’s initials on it, told the reporters: “I thought last season, when I was sacked as a champion, I thought it was a giant, negative thing. Now I realize that was peanuts compared with what happened to Claudio.
“My words are my shirt – with his name. My little homage to somebody who wrote the most beautiful history in the Premier League. [He is] somebody that probably deserves to have the Leicester stadium named ‘The Claudio Ranieri [Stadium].’ And he’s sacked!”
Reuters / Carl Recine
Antonio Conte, the man who is very much on the verge of succeeding Ranieri as the new Champion of England, also expressed his support to his fellow countryman by criticising Leicester City’s players and the board.
“I don’t like to follow these type of stories because I think it’s not right. It’s a lack of respect for Claudio,” the Chelsea boss stated.
“The players don’t decide if a manager must get sacked or not. If this happens, it means the club is poor and without power. I don’t believe in this or trust in this. I don’t want to listen to this type of story – it’s frustrating for managers to imagine that the players can decide your destiny and future.”
Reuters / Phil Noble
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who is set to visit the King Power Stadium this coming Tuesday, also had his say on the topic, and the German’s reaction was perhaps the most creative of all.
Klopp was quoted as saying: “A few strange decisions with Brexit, Trump and Ranieri. You have to ask Leicester why they have done it.”
West Brom manager Tony Pulis also appeared furious with the Italian coach’s shocking sack. He said, “In management it turns so quickly you’ve got to be absolutely focused on the next game.
“You can’t take your foot off the pedal. I’m afraid if you do that, start to get relaxed or take things for granted, it’s the worst game in the world for kicking you up the backside.”
