Very Specific Football Question No.61: Would you want Claudio Ranieri to manage your club?

Poor Claudio. Poor, poor Claudio. If getting sacked nine months after being hailed as the manager of the century wasn’t enough, he then had to watch the players who (allegedly) abandoned him react with a performance of such flair and determination in Monday’s 3-1 win against Liverpool that it made him look like the bad guy.

It’s natural to feel a strong urge to hug Ranieri right now – tenderly, and for a long time, while soothingly repeating the words, “You’re a good guy, Claudi. A good, good guy.”

Yet there’s also no doubt the narrative that was nicely taking shape after the Italian’s dismissal – that of ungrateful players, nasty Thai owners with no respect for football’s soul and Ranieri as the cuddly, blameless victim – has hit some scripting complications.

Read more: We should not be shocked at Leicester’s revival without Ranieri

Despite Jamie Carragher’s insistence that Leicester players should “hang their heads in shame” for their displays under Ranieri this season – a view shared by many pundits and fans – their improved showing against the Reds (and evident squad unity in the aftermath of victory) raises an awkward question…

Is Claudio Ranieri not a very good manager?

It immediately feels like sacrilege to even suggest such a thing – vicious, wash-your-mouth-out-with-Mr Muscle-you-dirty-animal type-stuff.

It’s the kind of discussion no-one would ever want to confront. Like if you found out your grandparents had been sexting, or your cat is Islamaphobic, or that Sir Bobby Robson sniffed glue throughout the 1990s.

In such (strictly hypothetical) matters, the fierce love in your heart will overpower the troublesome details jabbing at your head.

And anyway, in this instance we have a wealth of evidence to refute the suggestion that Claudio is somehow incapable.

Last season, he wasn’t just a very good manager, he was a bona-fide miracle worker. No one needs
reminding of the genius Ranieri showed in leading a team including Shinji Okazaki and Marc Albrighton to the Premier League title.

The way he brilliantly fostered team spirit, managed expectations, maintained momentum and – finally – adroitly utilised every weapon at his disposal to propel his troops down the home straight to glory.

But then, last season was unique, and already it has the sense of existing in a bubble.

Although Ranieri is among those who had the greatest impact on Leicester’s title triumph, he alone could have not have manipulated all the strange forces that conspired to make the Foxes temporarily unstoppable. That made Wes Morgan flawless, Christian Fuchs mesmeric and Riyad Mahrez the best player in England. There was an irresistible chemistry at work that went beyond mere tactics.

This season, once the 2015/16 bubble had floated off into the ether, Leicester were left once again with the sum of their parts. Some good players, some who aren’t as good and – with the task of weaving it all together – a manager.

A manager whose appointment at the King Power Stadium in July 2015 was met with surprise and, in some quarters, outright ridicule.

For this was a man who – since leaving Chelsea in 2004 – had been sacked or otherwise “released” from every job he’d had, culminating with humiliating defeat by the Faroe Islands – twice! – while manager of Greece.

Ranieri rebuilt his reputation last season. His warmth and humour meant he was already a legend as man; now he is a legend for his management too – for ever.

But has he managed to shake off the tag of tactical eccentricity that dogged him for the past decade?

Claims he had “lost the dressing room” at Leicester seem to be borne out by the Foxes’ display against Liverpool. And while this has been framed as an accusation against the players, it’s naive to ignore the likelihood that Ranieri was at least partly responsible for his downfall.

There is no shame in Leicester’s form this season. Defending a title comes with its particular set of difficulties, as Jose Mourinho found out to his cost at Chelsea last season (and no one is doubting his management credentials).

But while Ranieri can always rely on the adoration of the English football public, does he leave with its unwavering respect?

That will be answered in part by his next move, and whether he remains in demand among Premier League clubs.

You love him, sure. But would you also love him to be in charge of your team? Or would you still think what the majority of Leicester fans – even the hallowed Gary Lineker himself – thought when he was appointed as Nigel Pearson’s replacement 19 months ago. Namely, “Oh no – that will end in tears.”

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