Vardy hails wily Fox Ranieri
JAMIE VARDY says Claudio Ranieri’s best ever decision at Leicester was to do nothing.
Vardy reckons ex-Foxes boss Ranieri masterminded the most romantic Premier League win of all time in 2015-16 by refusing to tinker with the team he inherited from Nigel Pearson. Ranieri, now in charge at Fulham, comes up against his old side for the first time tonight when Leicester visit Craven Cottage.
Vardy, who is struggling with a groin injury, said: “That season, I think he summed it up perfectly when he first came in and just said he wasn’t going to change anything.
“He knew what we were good at and he didn’t want to change anything about it and he didn’t. That was why we had that success.”
The ex-England striker brushed aside claims Ranieri had lost the dressing room before he was ousted nine months after lifting the title.
“There was no relationship breakdown, it was just one of those things,” said Vardy. “We were trying new things and they weren’t working. Unfortunately in football it’s one of those things where the manager is the person who always ends up getting the blame.”
Ranieri admits it will feel strange facing his old team.
“It is not a match like all the others,” he said. “Every time I face one of my ex teams – and now there are lots – there is always more emotion.
“Football is emotion. And Leicester is the club that gifted me a dream.
“It will be a good moment for sure – very emotional – and then we have to win.”