Conte speaks out over player power after Leicester axe Ranieri

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte says it would be wrong if player power was behind the sacking of his friend Claudio Ranieri.

Reports on Friday suggested that Leicester fired their Premier League-winning manager following a meeting with some of the squad in the wake of their Champions League defeat at Sevilla.

The Foxes’ caretaker boss Craig Shakespeare has since denied a revolt led to the sacking of Ranieri – and Conte would not hear of it either.

“I don’t like to follow this type of story because I think it’s not right, and is a lack of respect for Claudio,” the Blues boss said.

“It’s not right that the players decide if a manager must be sacked or not. If this happens, it means the club is poor, without power.

“I don’t believe in this, I don’t trust in this. I don’t want to listen to this type of story because it is frustrating for a manager to imagine that the players can decide your destiny.”

Conte admitted he was surprised to learn of Ranieri’s departure, just nine months after leading Leicester to the title.

“I was surprised because after the game in the Champions League, the qualification is open,” he said.

“It’s a good result when you finish the game 2-1. In the second game you need to only win 1-0 and go into the quarter-finals. For Leicester it’s a great achievement.”