Leicester, you absolute bastards!
We understand that football clubs are businesses and can’t afford to be overly sentimental with their managers but when the club is Leicester City and the manager is Claudio Ranieri, who had just delivered the Premier League title, then much more slack should have been cut.
Ranieri was sacked by the Foxes on 23 February after an underwhelming start to the season and stories began to circulate that a number of senior players had spoken to the club’s owners behind Ranieri’s back and expressed concern and doubt over the Italian’s ability to turn things around.
Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel denied those allegations while, as recently as last weekend, right-back Danny Simpson admitted that Ranieri’s decision to change the meal options for Foxes players did not go down well.
The sweet potato that broke the camel's back https://t.co/f1jlred0zM
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) April 9, 2017
Ranieri appeared on Monday Night Football this week and his sacking was the main topic of conversation but he refused to believe that his former players had anything to do with his dismissal.
“No I can’t believe it,” Ranieri said. “I can’t believe it.
“I can believe the players didn’t give their maximum because there were other problems, other problems that were there before and, after they heard something, they doubled or tripled.
“Or maybe when you were safe at the last match and at the start of the season you are so concentrated on being solid and strong, and we started very well the year before. But when you come back in pre-season and you won the title, you go around the world and play against big teams for the first time in your life, the situation is totally different.
Did player power force Ranieri out?
He doesn't think so!
Sky Sports 1 HD now for more! #MNF https://t.co/yzxmbbfcc1— Sky Sports Retro (@SkySportsRetro) April 10, 2017
“I can’t believe my players killed me. No! No! No!”
Ranieri was praised for not throwing anyone under the bus…
Class act Claudio Ranieri. Honest, eloquent and weeks after his sacking you still got a sense of him trying to protect his players. #MNF
— Tom Leach (@TomLeachCCFC) April 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/George_7892/status/851499840144101377
Claudio Ranieri. A class man. A humble man. A man who was betrayed and left out to dry by his players. Still won't say a bad word about them
— Jimmy McGee (@jimmymcgee88) April 10, 2017
It was then put to Ranieri that perhaps other figures behind-the-scenes at the King Power Stadium were to blame for his sacking.
But, again, the 65-year-old displayed incredible class and dignity in refusing to name names although he did allude to a conversation with someone at the club.
“I listened to a lot of stories about this,” he continued.
“Maybe it could be somebody behind me but I had a little problem the year before, when we won the title.
“Maybe the people this year, when we lose, they pushed a little more but that’s it.
“No I don’t want to tell (who I’m talking about). I’m a serious man, a loyal man. What I had to say, I said face-to-face.”
And while Ranieri kept shtum on those to blame for his dismissal, fans seemed to make their own minds up and believed that the man who took over from Ranieri, Craig Shakespeare, was the guilty party.
https://twitter.com/_MidKnightGaz/status/851498085448654848
Ranieri "Could be someone behind me…" LOL. There was Mr Shakespeare standing? 😅 #lcfc #MNF
— PaulO (@paulottey) April 10, 2017
Ranieri hinting that Shakespeare was the one who snaked him #MNF
— Mike (@MichaelK_92) April 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/TheKloppEnd/status/851498651688087552
https://twitter.com/BecontreeHammer/status/851498737956466688
Shakespeare has knifed Ranieri in the back is what I'm taking from this show. #mnf
— Simon Marson (@Simonmarson) April 10, 2017
It's quite obvious to see that the chief snake behind the scenes at Leicester who wanted Ranieri out was Craig Shakespeare. CUNT!!
— Mr. Jenkins (@Yido4Life82) April 10, 2017
Clear that Ranieri knows who the culprits are for getting him sacked but fair play to him for not airing it. My money's on Shakespeare #MNF
— Olly Evans (@ollyevans96) April 10, 2017
Bout #Shakespeare 🤔. It's always the ppl closest to you, that turn out to be the biggest 🐍. This man deserved more! @SkySportsMNF #Ranieri
— Kur7t 🏁 (@Kur7t) April 10, 2017
