Time to start calling me Thinkerman, says Ranieri
Claudio RanieRi wants to shrug off his Tinkerman nickname and instead be known as the Thinkerman. asked why Gokhan inler, a £5million signing from napoli and one of leicester’s highest earners, has only made four appearances, Ranieri grinned.
‘Good question,’ he replied. ‘a long time ago a lot of people told me the nickname: Tinkerman.
‘and now i am waiting until a lot of people change my nickname to Thinkerman!
‘i am joking. Seriously, the team plays so well. Gok is a fantastic professional, a big champion. i am so sorry for him; i brought him here. But the other people in this moment play well together.’
That is at the heart of how Ranieri has confounded the odds to take leicester top of the Premier league.
He amended rather than ripped up the blueprint left by nigel Pearson, and continues to keep faith in the players who have lifted leicester rather than alternate for the sake of it. aged 64, his image is altering.
Beat everton tomorrow and the Christmas no 1 spot will be leicester’s. They will be without Jeff Schlupp, who is set to miss six weeks with a hamstring problem, and danny drinkwater for that game, though the latter should be back for the Boxing day match at liverpool.
in five of the last six seasons the team leading on december 25 has gone on to lift the title. Ranieri said nothing could be predicted this season and instead used Sir alex Ferguson’s success with horses and title triumphs to remind his players to stay to the final furlong.
Ferguson won 13 Premier league titles with Manchester united and had a famous love of racehorses, co- owning the hugely successful stallion Rock of Gibraltar. ‘of course i’d like to win the Premier league — who doesn’t?’ said Ranieri.
‘Sir alex knows when the horses arrive in the last 10 metres or 100 metres. i want my horses at the end of the race.’
That includes thoroughbreds Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, who are sure to be the subject of interest when the transfer window opens. Ranieri revealed he has advised the pair to stay.
‘We are in good flight now,’ he said. ‘We can improve. Maybe at the end of the season we can speak.
‘if i suggest to them it is much better they continue with us, i don’t wait for their answer! if they believe in me, follow me.’
Ranieri (below) appeared to hint the duo deserve new deals but added: ‘The owners said nothing. For them there is a contract which they must respect.’
in terms of nicknames, he might be called the Grim Reaper. leicester’s win against Chelsea was the final straw for Jose Mourinho, and victory at Swansea the previous week spelled the end for Garry Monk. Tim Sherwood and dick advocaat left aston Villa and Sunderland soon after defeats by leicester, too.
Speaking before news of Mourinho’s sacking broke, Ranieri laughed off reports in italy linking him with a return to Chelsea.
‘i think only of leicester. i’m very glad when i see our fans happy,’ he said. ‘i am an old man and i have read a lot
of speculation.’