Why Leicester were right to sack Claudio Ranieri

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Leicester City have sacked manager Claudio Ranieri just nine months after the Italian guided The Foxes to a seemingly implausible Premier League title triumph.

But the only real surprise is that there is any surprise at all regarding his departure from the club.

Since being crowned champions of England in May Leicester have stumbled along from one mistake to the next and have been spiralling towards relegation since the turn of the year. The club’s transfer policy, negative attitude, poor performances, demotivated players and bizarre tactical decisions have been continuing issues that Ranieri, among others, must shoulder the responsibility for.

The Italian was coveted with praise during the summer, and rightly so. Leading The Foxes to the Premier League title will be one of the great underdog sporting success stories that will forever be remembered both in Leicester and across English football. But he must also accept the criticism for his team’s performance this campaign – which will go down in the history books as one of the timidest and pathetic title-defensives in sporting history.

Setting the tone

The warning signs were there for all to see during the summer.

The first mistake was that Ranieri set a negative tone. He publicly admitted that he had set his Leicester City team the primary target of reaching 40 points in the Premier League and achieving safety.

The Premier League title holders, the best team in English football the previous season, were hoping to avoid relegation.

By setting the bar so outstandingly low Ranieri was sending a clear message to his players – “Last season was just a fluke. Do not expect to defend your title.” In one fell swoop, the best team in England surrendered their title before a ball was even kicked. Is it any wonder that the players have performed so poorly when their manager publically undermined their success the previous year? It sent out all the wrong messages.

The second mistake was that Leicester decided to sell their best player, N’Golo Kante, to Chelsea. The Frenchman’s energy, enthusiasm, and technical play had been a key component of their success the previous season – and they sold him to a title rival. Why? The 25-year-old was tied down to a long-term contract and the club were under absolutely no financial pressure to sell. Ranieri needed to play hardball and keep hold of his dynamic midfielder but instead chose to take the easy option and cash in.

As a comparison, can you imagine Sir Alex Ferguson responding to a title triumph by telling his squad that they needed to reach 40 points and then selling his best player to a title rival?

Leicester City were the best team in England going into the new campaign and yet Ranieri was behaving like his players would be in a relegation fight. Negativity from the manager breeds negativity within the playing squad.

A timid title defence

Football is a business that is all about the here-and-now.

The success of the previous year is irrelevant – it is all about your team’s current form and performances. This is something that Ranieri has found out the hard way just as Jose Mourinho did in 2016.

Looking at Leicester’s results so far this season it would be difficult for any observer to put forward a reasonable case for the Italian to keep his job without making reference to the previous campaign. Progress in the Champions League has helped to cover the cracks but one run in Europe would be little compensation or comfort should the club be put back a decade through relegation.  The statistics are difficult to comprehend and the performances have been hard to stomach.

The reigning English champions have lost 14 fixtures and have conceded 43 goals in the Premier League so far this season. They have won just five games and sit one point above the relegation zone. More importantly, their form showed no sign of improving under the guidance of Ranieri. Since the turn of the year in the top-flight The Foxes have picked up just one point, have lost their last five fixtures and have not scored a single goal.

These are damning statistics that will result in any manager being sacked. Performances have been extremely poor and Ranieri has shown no sign of being able to halt the slide towards the relegation zone. There was only ever going to be one eventual outcome.

However, the Italian has not helped himself. Leicester’s success last season came from continuity in team selection and tactics but this campaign Ranieri has insisted on chopping and changing the starting line-up and deploying various different formations.

“If it isn’t broke don’t try and fix it”.

There was no need to change a winning formula.

Poor timing

So, in reality, Claudio Ranieri’s sacking comes as no surprise – Leicester were only heading in one direction under the Italian’s leadership this season – but the timing of his departure is somewhat bizarre.

In mid-week Leicester demonstrated a little more spirit and quality in Spain when they travelled to Sevilla in the Champions League. The Foxes may have lost the game but the performance was much-improved and Jamie Vardy’s away goal provides them with a genuine opportunity to turn the tie around in the reverse leg in early March. Also, the transfer window is now closed, so any new manager will have to work with the current group of players and will not be able to bring in any new additions.

The club has made the right decision but at the wrong time. Releasing Ranieri from his duties is a step that should have been taken in January.

So what now?

So Claudio Ranieri’s reign as Leicester City manager is officially over.

The club and its supporters will undoubtedly be forever thankful for the contribution that the Italian made in guiding The Foxes to the Premier League title, but there is little argument that his departure is the correct decision.

The Leicester hierarchy now need to be swift and decisive. A new manager needs to be brought in as soon as possible but there is little room for error – the wrong appointment would be disastrous at this stage – but there is little doubt that the club needs fresh energy, impetus, ideas, and input. Roberto Mancini and Frank de Boer have both been highlighted as early favourites and it will be interesting to see what type of character The Foxes elect to opt for.

Congratulations to Claudio Ranieri for winning the Premier League. But you have no excuse for Leicester City’s timid title defence and slide towards the relegation zone.

Featured Image: All Rights Reserved Alex Hannam (Alex Hannam)