Claudio Ranieri is your cooky grandfather who, once you get past the numerous quirks of character, is really just a lovable guys who’s maybe a little bit “out there” but still sharp as a tack.
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In a business of gigantic characters, the Leicester City manager might just be the most quotable manager in the Premier League.
Speaking ahead of his side’s Boxing Day (Saturday) trip to Anfield, where they’ll face a desperate Liverpool side (Watch live at 10 a.m., on Live Extra), Ranieri likened his team to Forrest Gump, an all-time lovable movie character — quotes from the Guardian:“Look, I am very confident because if Leicester last season saved themselves in the last two months that means the stamina is fantastic. Why can’t we continue to run, run, run? We are like Forrest Gump. Leicester is Forrest Gump. I give you the headline there.”
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“It is important that [the Leicester players] are very close together. They are friendly. We don’t have the high quality like Manchester City and Arsenal, but we fight together. Every ball for us is the last ball. That’s what we believe. First minute or last minute, every ball is important.”
1) Thanks for the easy headline, Claudio. 2) At some point, the “run, run, run” ethos at Leicester will see them fall away and/or apart — see, for example: literally every team ever coached by Marcelo Bielsa. 3) If Leicester collectively personify Forrest Gump, then who does that make Lieutenant Dan? And Bubba?