Ranieri: 'I was always positive'

By Football Italia staff

Claudio Ranieri spoke to Italian TV after Leicester City won the Premier League. “I’ve been fighting a long time, but was always positive.”

The Coach was in Rome today for lunch with his 96-year-old mother and landed back in England after Chelsea had held Tottenham to a 2-2 draw, handing his side the title.

“I am 64 years old, I’ve been fighting for a long time, but I was always positive and had positivity on my side,” Ranieri told Rai 3's Processo del Lunedi show.

“I always thought that I’d end up winning a league title somewhere eventually. I am the same man who was fired by Greece, perhaps someone there had forgotten about my career.

“It’s not as if anyone will forget, but I like to point out I am the same man who was on the Greece bench. I haven’t changed.

“I am staying at Leicester. This is a year that cannot be repeated, next year we’ll try to fight for a top 10 place, hopefully. We must continue to grow and to do well.”

Leicester are in the Champions League for next season.

Despite saying he would be the last man in England to know the Spurs result, Ranieri confessed he was keeping an eye on it.

“When something happens to you like this, you can’t fully realise it. Tottenham were winning at half-time, so I was a bit downhearted.

“Then when Cahill scored, I thought something could happen. I did celebrate at Hazard’s equaliser.

“The only dedication I can make is to everyone. I tell you to try, try all the way, and know that you can believe.”

Ranieri was asked if it was possible for there to be a Leicester-style fairy-tale in Serie A.

“Perhaps they’d need to divide up the TV rights money in a different way.”

Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Mancini won the Premier League, so how does Ranieri feel being the ambassador for Italian football in England?

“I gladly take on this responsibility. I like to give the credit to Gianfranco Zola, as when I was in charge of Chelsea, the fans of all the other teams applauded him.

“He was the greatest ambassador and representative of Italian football, so I like to remember him in these moments.”

Watch Serie A live in the UK on Premier Sports for just £9.99 per month including live LaLiga, Eredivisie, Scottish Cup Football and more. Visit: https://www.premiersports.com/subscribenow