Paul Konchesky exclusive: Ranieri would still be in a job had he not won the league
“If Leicester had finished 17th last season and one point above relegation would they have been shouting for his head? I don’t think so and Ranieri would still be in the Premier League. The owners are ambitious guys and you can see that. After winning the league and then slipping down they couldn’t take a chance because this is where the money is. They’re business men and if that’s what was needed to stay in the Premier League then that’s how it is. It does look like the players didn’t want Ranieri there because they’re unbeaten in four now but I know those players and they don’t have that in them. They’re good guys and I think it came from the top.”
Nigel Pearson deserves more credit
“I got on really well with Nigel Pearson. To the press he came across as a bit moody or arrogant but with the players he was fantastic. I’ve got a lot of time for him and it was a pleasure to play for him. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves because when you get sacked all you’ve done at the club gets forgotten. Two years before winning the league he got Leicester promoted but that soon gets forgotten and the new manager gets all the praise.”
Shakespeare was the right man to steady the ship
“Nigel was manager but Shakey was the first team coach and he was massive for us. He did a lot of the work with players – the one on one stuff and patterns of play. Those bunch of players have been there for a couple of years now so they know him and he knows them. He knows how to get the best out of them and maybe he’s taken it all back to basics to get the boys winning games again. It certainly seems to be working and he was the right man to steady the ship.”
Paul Konchesky exclusive: I’d love to return to Leicester in some capacity
“You should never say never and if I had the opportunity to go back to work at Leicester I’d love to. It’s a great club with fantastic people. It’s a family club really.”
Leicester can progress against Atletico
“They’re in the last eight of the Champions League so there are no easy draws. Even so the four big hitters have all drawn each other so this is a fantastic tie for them and a great opportunity. If they can go to Atletico and get a good result out there there’s no reason why we can’t see a repeat of Sevilla at home last week.”
Promotion to Premier League was my Leicester highlight
“Getting promoted from the Championship to the Premier League in my third season there was a highlight for me and then staying up the year after. That goal against Wolves came about when the ball came across from the right with Ben Marshall switching the play. I had loads of space open up and I just kept going and going before letting go of a rocket into the top corner. It was disappointing though because we were two down at the time but it did mean something to me because being a defender I didn’t score very often. It was a buzz.”
Fan criticism does play on your mind
“It plays on your mind but everyone is allowed an opinion. If you’re in the middle you have to take the criticism and take it on the chin. If you can’t block it out you shouldn’t be playing football. You take things back to basics and keep it simple, make sure your game ticks over.”
Paul Konchesky was speaking exclusively to 888Sport.
Read the full 888sport interview with Paul Konchesky, including his thoughts on how Ranieri would still be in a job had he not won the league last season
View full article
