Ranieri: Players did not kill me

CLAUDIO Ranieri believes he may have been pushed out of his job at Leicester — but he is convinced it was not by his players.

Having guided the Foxes to their stunning Premier League title success last season, the Italian was controversially sacked in February.

Several of Ranieri’s key players did not perform as they had done in the previous campaign but their form has improved dramatically since his departure.

New boss Craig Shakespeare — Ranieri’s former assistant — won his first six games in charge, adding fuel to the stories the players had forced Ranieri out.

But, speaking publicly for the first ti me since his sacking, Ranieri said: “I don’t believe rumours the players spoke t o t he Leicester owners about sacking me.

“I don’t believe the players killed me. No, no, no!

“Maybe it could be someone behind me but maybe the little problem I had before the title, maybe they push a little more when we lose this year.

“I don’t want to tell (who). I am a serious man, a loyal man. What I have to say, I say face-to-face.”

Ranieri believes Leicester’s upturn in fortunes actually started when they travelled to Sevilla in the Champions League.

“I believed sooner or later we would turn,” he added. “The turning point was the Sevilla match. In the second half everyone was together again, fighting, Jamie Vardy scoring.

“It’s not easy to go there and only lose 2-1, so when I was sacked it was a shock for me and for everyone.”

Former Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri.