Internet Desk: Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri thanked his former club for helping his side win the Premier League title for the first time in its 132 years. Ranieri called his Chelsea counterpart Guus Hiddink to thank him for the draw with Tottenham Hotspur that gave his team the Premier League title.
Spurs’ 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge brought Leicester the first top-flight title in their 132-year history and Ranieri, who was sacked by Chelsea in 2004, was quickly on the phone to express his gratitude.
“Just after the final whistle, I got a call from Ranieri,” Hiddink, Chelsea’s interim manager, told his post-match press conference.
“He called us and thanked us for what we did, especially in the second half. I congratulated him for being champion.
“I think they deserve it. It might be not a surprise anymore, but maybe a shock for the established clubs that they did so well. They didn’t implode. There was no tension when they started smelling the title. That’s why I think they deserve the title.”
Asked if Ranieri, who cried on the pitch following Leicester’s recent 2-0 win at Sunderland, had sounded emotional, Hiddink replied: “Yeah. I didn’t see any tears because it was not a Facetime conversation.
“But his voice was trembling a bit. Five times, (he said) thanks. Because the emotion is going up.”
Ranieri, 64, was reported to have returned to England earlier on Monday after making a quick trip to Italy in order to have lunch with his 96-year-old mother, Renata.
The soft spoken Italian will get his hands on the first league title of his 30-year managerial career on Saturday after Leicester’s final home game against Everton.