Chelsea boss Antonio Conte says Leicester are 'poor and without power' if players decided Claudio Ranieri's fate

Champions: Leicester fear dropping into the Championship after a failed title defence
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Simon Johnson24 February 2017

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte today insisted Leicester City are in the wrong if they allowed player power to get manager Claudio Ranieri the sack.

Ranieri was fired by Leicester yesterday, less than nine months after he led them to a remarkable title triumph in the top flight.

It has been reported that Leicester decided to act after talking to senior players, with a lot of speculation that they had grown unhappy with his training methods and tactics.

While not being in a position to confirm whether those claims are true or not, Conte said: “I don’t like to follow this type of story because I don’t think it’s right. It’s a lack of respect for Claudio.

“It is not right for the players to decide if a manager is sacked or not. If this happens the club is poor, without power. I don’t believe in this, trust in this.

“I don’t want to listen to this type of story. It is frustrating for a manager, to imagine the players can decide your destiny.”

Ranieri was named Fifa coach of the Year recently for his achievement of leading an unfancied Leicester side to first place last May.

But he leaves with the club just one point above the relegation zone and having lost their last five matches.

However, Conte added: “My reaction is very sad because this is our job, for sure I’m disappointed for him. First he’s a friend, he’s a really good man and manager.

“Only one season ago he won the title with the club and the players, he reached a dream. I was surprised, because it came after the Champions League game (2-1 last 16 defeat in first leg to Sevilla).

“For the second leg, qualification is open, it was a good result. They only need to win 1-0 to get to the Quarter Final and that would be a great achievement.”

Former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is the current favourite to replace Ranieri at the King Power Stadium.

“It is very difficult to talk about this because it’s a lack of respect,” Conte said. “I know Roberto and saw him at West Ham v Manchester City recently. I spoke with him, he is a really good coach. But it’s not right to talk about another coach the day after Claudio was sacked.

“For sure I will call him (Claudio), but now it’s better to wait because I understand the situation, his frustration for this.

“It is natural after this type of situation to talk and to show him also my disappointment for this decision because I think it is a very strong decision.”

In Pictures: Leicester title celebrations

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Ranieri’s departure means the last two managers to win the Premier League title have lost their jobs, including former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

Conte is a firm favourite to win a championship this term with the Blues eight points clear in the table.

But the Italian isn’t worried about finishing top and being on the receiving end of a similar fate.

He said: “If you remember very well I was already sacked this season with the bookmakers and I was lucky to keep the right concentration and continue the work!

“First of all I think it is important to finish this season in the best way and if we are able to reach this dream for me, for the players, I am ready to face this risk.

“I am happy, very happy to face this risk next season but for sure I am really focussed, me

the players about this season because there are 13 games until the end of the season and we want to stay until the end of the season.

“It won’t be easy but I am ready to take this risk if it means we won the League.”

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