Mourinho: Ranieri axe typical of ‘the new football’

Ian Watson

Jose Mourinho said Claudio Ranieri’s sacking by Leicester within months of winning the Premier League title was symptomatic of “the new football”.

Ranieri was dismissed on Thursday night with the Foxes just one point above the relegation zone, having only secured an incredible and improbable championship in May.

Mourinho experienced similar treatment at Chelsea. He led the London club to the 2014-15 title, but was dismissed in December 2015 after a series of dreadful results and what was described as “palpable discord” with his players by technical director Michael Emenalo.

The Portuguese, who succeeded Ranieri at Stamford Bridge when his first spell at the club began in 2004, clearly sees the Italian’s exit as further proof of how ruthless football has become at the highest level.

Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who won the Second Division title in an eight-year spell with Leicester, said he was “very surprised and a little bit shocked” by the sacking.

He said on Radio 4: “Last season…was an unbelievable season for Leicester. Nobody could ever imagine they would achieve what they did.

“Claudio Ranieri is going to be a hero and legend in Leicester for his lifetime because of that season. But what’s happened this season has been a total contrast – some buys that haven’t come off, they lost (N’Golo) Kante (who left for Chelsea in the summer) which was obviously a big blow and they just haven’t performed.”