Legendary Italian manager Claudio Ranieri, known for his Premier League triumph with Leicester City, shared his insights with Gazzetta dello Sport on the current Serie A season and reflected on his storied career. Despite being away from the touchline for nearly 150 days, Ranieri’s passion for football remains undiminished.
On his future plans, Ranieri stated, “I’ve received some calls, even from Italy. The temptation to return immediately was there, I admit, but in the end I resisted. My idea remains the same as at the end of May: I’m waiting for an adventure that excites me, preferably a European national team.”
Regarding the Serie A title race, Ranieri believes Inter Milan are the favorites. “Inter are the reigning Italian champions and have two alternatives for each role, which is why Inzaghi is rotating his players. However, I expect a much more competitive championship than in recent years,” he explained.
Ranieri also praised Juventus under Thiago Motta, saying, “Juventus has undergone a real revolution, even culturally. Thiago has been quick to transmit and convince the team of his ideas. And now there’s certainty that Juventus will fight with Inter and Napoli.”
When asked about the summer’s most impactful transfer, Ranieri didn’t hesitate: “Lukaku to Napoli. Romelu is a guarantee with Conte and has already entered the hearts of the fans.”
Reflecting on his time at Roma, Ranieri commented on De Rossi’s recent dismissal: “If you sign a long-term contract with a coach and then after a few bad games the project goes to pieces, well, there’s a problem. De Rossi’s dismissal seemed to me a lack of planning.”
On his coaching philosophy, Ranieri expressed his preference for direct, attacking football. “When I see slow possession in their own half, I change the channel. I’ve never built from the back with my teams, and I see that the trend in Serie A is decreasing.”
Ranieri also shared some personal reflections, including an apology to former players: “I lived through several seasons thinking I should apologize to Laurent Blanc and Alemao. Back in the Napoli days, Ferlaino was wrong to sell them, and I was wrong to endorse their sales.”
As for the possibility of another underdog triumph like his Leicester City feat, Ranieri remains optimistic: “I like dreams, so I hope so. Last year people were talking about Girona, which is part of the City group. I have a soft spot for Brest, who are on maximum points in the Champions League.”
