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Ranieri: Mourinho was first to welcome me back

Jose Mourinho and Claudio Ranieri embrace.
Jose Mourinho and Claudio Ranieri embrace.

Claudio Ranieri was welcomed back to the Premier League by Jose Mourinho, according to the Fulham manager.

The new Cottagers boss told the press before their visit to Old Trafford on Saturday that Mourinho had been in touch after his appointment, and was the first manager to do so.

Mourinho previously wore Ranieri’s initials, CR, on his training suit after the Italian was sacked by Leicester City just nine months after winning a famous Premier League title.

The news may come as a surprise to some after the harsh words Mourinho had for Ranieri’s performance as manager both at Chelsea and then at Roma.

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However, Ranieri said: “He was the first who sent me a message to say welcome back. He is a very friendly friend.

“He told me, ‘Welcome back, all the best.’ We speak about everything.

“It was a text message. Sometimes we speak. He’s a fantastic man.

“I know him for a long time, when he came to Chelsea and in Italy, and he was very polite with me.

“He’s a great man, coach, manager and also the football is important.

“I enjoy very much (managing again in the Premier League), I’ve come back home.”


United and Fulham are both struggling for form, with Fulham drawing 1-1 against Leicester on Wednesday, and United coming off the back of a haphazard 2-2 draw against Arsenal.

Ranieri was not bullish on his side’s prospects, saying: “Manchester are one of the best teams in the Premier League and also in the Champions League.

“It’s a fantastic team and stadium and we want to make a point. We know it’s hard, but nothing is impossible.

“Manchester are getting better, for us it will be difficult. We must make a perfect performance.

“Every manager would like to win, the desire is to win, but we have a great respect for Manchester.

“Every match we improve, but it’s not easy because when you stay at the bottom of the table, it’s not so (easy to be) confident 100 per cent.

“I gave my confidence to my players, but if you have two or three good results the confidence of the team grows immediately and I am confident we will do this.”