Roman and Roma fan by birth, but his first love as a coach was Cagliari. Claudio Ranieri is 71 years old, and on November 4th he will celebrate 50 years of professional football. Interviewed by the director of Corriere dello Sport , Ivan Zazzaroni, the rossoblù coach ranged across multiple fronts, starting from that modern football full of neologisms and theoretical terminologies: «I would like a few more points » , he says, «then we could mess around about everything » .

Yet in his first experience in Cagliari he could define himself as innovative: «In '15-'18, when I often changed game systems, I was criticized because they didn't understand. In short, I was wrong and I saved Cagliari in the '90-'91 season. Was I current then, when I used the 3-5-2 differently? We all did it" , he adds, "Only Sacchi practiced the total zone, previously Vinicio a little in Napoli. I did both, the team followed me and I managed to save Cagliari ."

And when asked what was the period during his long career in which he felt truly fulfilled, Ranieri has no doubts: «When I realized that I could be a coach. My three years in Cagliari" . Then he says: «I had won a C championship and the Italian Cup in the category, I had been promoted with Cagliari to Serie A and I had saved it. The best for a young coach who didn't know what he would do when he grew up. We all understand football, in words, but few really understand it. In that period I realized that I knew how to talk to the press, and first of all with my players, managers, fans, I had ideas and I was able to convey them. I came from the Interregional and from C in Pozzuoli... I did all my training, I wasn't a champion who was given Serie A, I started from scratch. Well, that was the most beautiful moment. This is why Cagliari, the island, Sardinia is my hard rock, in difficult moments the memory of Cagliari becomes very important. And for this reason, when I was called, I thought for a long time, I was afraid of losing the consideration and love that I had earned ."

Then a passage also on current events, which sees him opposed to Jose Mourinho. A colleague with whom the relationship didn't start very well: «He's great. I don't feel like speaking well of him or even saying, ah yes, he called me a seventy year old. They are our things, things that we have put in place, overcome by a lot, he has gotten to know me better." Then the Portuguese's nice gesture during his time at Leicester: « When they sacked me he showed up in the press room wearing the tracksuit with the writing CR on it, what should I say to him? Just thank you, he's a great friend, a great coach, only a great man does things like that. Thank you."

Sir Claudio has no doubts about the possibility of him being sacked now: «I don't think it's difficult. The day they saw me depressed, or no longer able to command the boat, would even be appropriate. If I were the president and I saw that my coach no longer had control of the locker room, I would have to force him out. It certainly wouldn't be the results that pushed me to get fired . As a man of sport I feel like saying this, then every president is free to do what he wants, of course." And regarding the relationship with the current patron, Giulini, Ranieri tells an anecdote: «After the promotion I told him: “President, there isn't a person who speaks well of you to me. How is it possible?" . He's a nice guy, someone who has his heart in it, always close to the team, even if I don't see him often, but we have a frank, loyal relationship, I get along well with him."

The coach also spoke about his football faith: «The child inside me is always a Roma fan. I have never hidden it and I never will hide it. Then I am a professional and I do the work for the team I coach, I must admit that I am equally a Cagliari fan. Cagliari is my coach's favorite team ."

And his career will end in Sardinia: «It will be my last club team and if a national team that interests me arrives, well, why not» .

Finally, the choice to return: «No question of A, B, or C. It was a question of returning to where I left, where I had and have an extraordinary relationship with people. I thought, what if it goes bad? What if it ends like in Valencia? I know I can help them, but what if it doesn't work? I was aware that it represented one of the last engagements. The certificates of esteem from friends from Cagliari were decisive, Riva's son pushing, "dad is happy too". One day Gigi uttered these words: “Claudio is one of us”. I'm thinking to myself, Cagliari is in difficulty, why do I have to be selfish? That's how it went."

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