Claudio Ranieri explains his plans for Leicester City's future and his relationship with Chelsea.
The 64-year-old accomplished an astonishing feat by winning the Premier League with the Foxes, and he admitted it still felt a little unreal.
Claudio Ranieri explains his plans for Leicester City's future and his relationship with Chelsea.
The 64-year-old accomplished an astonishing feat by winning the Premier League with the Foxes, and he admitted it still felt a little unreal.
"Normally I'd spend my time at home on my own and I would send others to speak in my place, but I'm at ease when I'm under pressure,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Indeed, it is when I don't work that I get tired and nervous. But now I realize that we have made a fairy tale come true, that of the little guy beating the giants.
“Italy needed to be associated to something positive. You have no idea how many people have written to me from China, Japan, Canada, Brazil, Uruguay. And now everything is beautiful.
"I was happy when I was called to go to England. I wanted to go back so bad, that I would have accepted a team from the Football League [the English Serie B].
“Two other Premier clubs had contacted me, but then they made other choices. Leicester convinced me because of their sense of leadership, their programs, and their facilities. They are perfectly organized.
“When I met the players I told them: 'I'll take a bit of time to know you all because you are so many, but you will need to know a single person: me. I ask only one thing: that you give all you can for each other'. And they did.”
Ranieri was also asked about Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, as the two worked together in the past.
"I still have a great relationship with him . He'd often invite me to his box to watch the games, and he gave me tickets to the finals of the Champions League.
“Chelsea fans still thank me, as I laid the foundations of success. My only regret is that he came too late to sign any big transfers. In July he told me: 'Would you like [Francesco] Totti, or [Alessandro] Nesta? I'll buy them all!' But there was no time to do that. "
The Tinkerman then went on to discuss Leicester's plans for the coming seasons, in light of the enormous increase in revenue that they enjoyed this year.
"At the beginning of the season the President told me that the program was to consolidate our position over a couple of championships, and then start investing. I told him: 'Act like this year never existed, because it's unrepeatable'.
“I don't want €30-40m players who break up the dressing room. I want people who have the same spirit as my boys. I always told them: 'I don't ask of you that you win, but that you always give everything you've got. And they did that, much like they will in the Champions League.
“I know there are many clubs who will say: 'Thank heavens, we have Leicester in our group!' But we will bring the same mentality to Europe this year.
“I just want some new players who are at the level of my starters, and greater tactical coordination for the team. I told the lads they could go wherever they want, but one year from now they'll have even more experience and they'll be worth more.
"We also look to Italy for the market. [Gianluca] Lapadula is very good. We've been following him for a while."