LEICESTER BOSS INSISTS PAST IS DEAD AND BURIED
laudio Ranieri has become the latest Premier League manager to bury the hatchet with Jose Mourinho, with the Italian describing his feud with the Manchester United boss as “prehistoric” ahead of Leicester City’s trip to Old Trafford today.
The Portuguese called Ranieri “a loser” when he replaced him at Chelsea during his first stint in England, and their relationship deteriorated further when they were both managing in Serie A.
Ranieri, who led rank outsiders Leicester to a title triumph last season, insisted the past was dead and buried and he was willing to share a drink with Mourinho after the game.
“It’s prehistoric,” Ranieri told reporters at a news conference. “It was a long time ago. It’s normal [now).”
Mourinho’s third stint in the English top flight has already seen a cessation of personal hostilities with Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Watford’s Walter Mazzarri.
Guardiola and Mourinho’s relationship stretched to breaking point when they were in charge of Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively, while the Portuguese described Mazzarri as a hardworking donkey when the two Manchester: Under-fire Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney said on Thursday he shuts his ears to criticism of his performances coming from outside the club.
The 30-year-old England skipper — who came in for criticism after United lost three successive games last week — told MUTV he is used to having his form scrutinised and he will just get on and work hard.
However, former top level players such as Alan Shearer have suggested United manager Jose Mourinho should think of dropping Rooney.
“I think I’ve had that my whole career — a little bit more of late, I think, but that’s football,” said Rooney.
“I listen to my coaches and my teammates, the people around me, and I don’t really listen to what a lot of people out there are saying because a lot of it is rubbish. were rivals in Italy.
United go into the Leicester game after suffering consecutive league defeats by City and Watford, but beat Ranieri’s team the last time they met — in the Community Shield in August.
Leicester City coach
Defending Mourinho
Ranieri, whose team trail seventh-placed United by two points, also defended Mourinho’s public criticism of his players in the wake of United’s 3-1 defeat at Watford last Sunday.
“He is a great manager, intelligent and a fantastic person,” Ranieri added.
“Every manager has his [rule] book and sometimes you need to do this [criticise],” he said.
“Sometimes, maybe not here, but at another team, also I push to provoke the reaction of the player. There’s always a psychology.”