Ranieri: 'Italy like Leicester'

By Football Italia staff

Claudio Ranieri feels “this Italy side has the same spirit as my Leicester City,” but has no intention of being Azzurri boss one day.

The Premier League winner spoke to Sky Sport Italia ahead of tonight’s Euro 2016 opener against Belgium.

“I saw the first few games and they were all very difficult, so I am convinced Italy will have a great Euros. I listened to what everyone said and can see a team spirit forming that is very similar to the one we have at Leicester.

“This is a real team and will fight to the very end.”

Ranieri was among the candidates to replace Antonio Conte on the Italy bench, though the job went to Giampiero Ventura.

“I was on a national team bench and it did not go well,” said the former Greece manager.

“I am more of a man who works every day with his players. Does it take courage to remain at Leicester? No, it requires a taste for the challenge. I am very curious to see what happens next. We have a magnificent group, so I want to see what we can do once the other big English clubs are relaunched.

“At the start of the season, the objective we set with the President was 40 points. I always thought positive in my life, but we all really started to think something could happen after the Arsenal game, when we were down to 10 men.

“I know a very difficult Premier League campaign awaits us, because what we did cannot be repeated. I hope to keep all my champions and add a few reinforcements.”

Yet star striker Jamie Vardy could join Arsenal this summer.

“We want to keep him, Arsenal have said they will pay the full release clause, but he hasn’t accepted yet. He gets the last word.”

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