The football world was no doubt excited at hearing that Claudio Ranieri would be appearing on Monday Night Football this week. Would we hear the real story of what went down at Leicester City? Would we get that explosive soundbite about his anger at his dismissal? Well, we should have known better.
True to form, Ranieri was more than happy to chat about where it all went wrong this season but he refused to admonish his players. The Italian told David Jones that he refuses to believe the rumours that his team went to the owners behind his back to complain about his management:
No, I can't believe it. I can believe that the players don't give their maximum because there are other problems. Other problems like the year before they earned a little less and after they earn double or triple ... Or when you come back in preseason and you've won the title, you go around the world, you go to America, you play against big teams for the first time in your life, the situation is totally different.
I can't believe. I can't believe my players killed me. No. No. No.
However, he did not rule out the possibility that there were certain people at the club conspiring against him but refused to name who they are, telling Jones and Carragher 'I am a loyal man. What I have to say, I say face-to-face.'
In terms of what he would have done differently, Ranieri spoke about how he doubted his decision to stick with the same core of players as last season but having seen how they've performed in recent weeks, ironically, he feels his decision has been vindicated:
I didn't want to sell him [Kante]. I didn't want to sell Mahrez or Vardy because I believed that these players were the heart of the team. And I said to them, we started a fairytale and we can continue it because I believe this team can do something good also in Champions League.
Before I was sacked I think 'Oh my big mistake is believing in my players' Why? Because they don't react. But after I was sacked I said 'No. It was right.' My decision at the beginning to maintain these players was right.
Ranieri showed his true class when thanking the Leicester City fans for the support he has gotten since his dismissal. A support so huge that he is struggling to get through all the cards he wants to reply to.
