Ranieri: A popular figure at Chelsea
Claudio Ranieri admits he is still bitter over the manner in which Chelsea showed him the Stamford Bridge exit door.
The popular Italian, speaking to the Observer newspaper, has revealed the role Peter Kenyon played in his departure.
Ranieri believes Chelsea chief executive Kenyon was the man who orchestrated an exit he never desired, with the 56-year-old eventually replaced by Jose Mourinho in 2004 - despite having previously enjoyed four successful years at the helm.
The arrival of Roman Abramovich in West London signalled a new era for the big-spending Blues and Ranieri quickly realised his face did not fit in the capital.
Frozen
“When Kenyon came, I was frozen,” he told the Observer.
“Kenyon was the new boss, and new bosses tend to want to bring in their own people and I was not one of his own people.
“Am I bitter? Yes. Bitterness, rancour, hurt - call it what you like.
“Before Abramovich came, I was doing my job, I carried on doing it for him and I wanted to continue doing it.
“At the end after the game against Leeds (his last match in charge), I knew the players and supporters were with me, even if the club was not. They knew I had left my legacy with them.”
Ranieri has since returned to his homeland Italy, where he coaches Turin giants Juventus.
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