Danny Simpson interview

[brucey]

Since we're having player interviews and conspiracy theories galore at the moment.. This came out a few days ago but I don't think it's been posted yet.

 

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DANNY SIMPSON INTERVIEW

‘Some people called us snakes after Ranieri left. It made us angry’

Leicester’s Danny Simpson tells Henry Winter how their title defence turned sour and why things are better now

 

Danny Simpson turns all serious when contemplating the toxic fall-out over Claudio Ranieri’s dismissal as Leicester City manager. “It went crazy,” the defender says. “We were getting it from all angles, even from some of our own fans. We were called ‘Snakes’.

 

“It was disappointing to see Claudio leave and we got that much stick it made us angry. We felt it was unjustified. We appreciated what he’d done, he’s a top man, an infectious character. At the time, it [Ranieri’s sacking on February 23] was seen as a loss for football.”

 

Simpson looks bemused at reports of a players’ meeting with the chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha on the morning after the game in Seville. “We don’t know where this came from. There was no meeting. The chairman made the decision.”

 

But had concerns about Ranieri’s post-title management been transmitted somehow to the chairman? “He will come in the training ground, come in the dressing room, and we see him in hotels but ‘these meetings’ to make that decision? It’s not the case. I’ve not spoken to the chairman like that and from what I’ve heard none of the other players had. It made us angry.”

 

The Leicester team were seen as Public Enemy No 1 and the run-in to their next game, under caretaker Craig Shakespeare, was ugly. “The build-up to that Liverpool game [on February 27] was tough,” Simpson says. “Going from last season’s heights, being everyone’s second team, to we’re are all villains all of a sudden. There was the whole ‘snakes’ thing. We knew it wasn’t the case. Against Liverpool, we were a bunch of angry players.”

 

In the opening minute, Jamie Vardy flew in on Sadio Mané. “Jamie set the tone for that game,” Simpson says. “We knew everyone was watching us. That’s the group of players we are, we stick together. That game we got a lot of anger out of ourselves, and we got the win which was a really good feeling after everything that had gone on.”

 

Criticism also focused on the fact that none of the players took to social media to post their thanks to Ranieri. “We had a talk. We can tweet all we want, but it is football that will do the talking. But it [the players’ 48-hour silence] was more because we knew Claudio was coming to the training ground, and we wanted to tell him in person. He came in before the Liverpool game, said his goodbyes, thanked us for that year we had, for sharing it all together, and he wished us good luck. Most of the lads spoke to him on their own. I spoke to him. I said, ‘Thanks for everything’. ”

 

But what of Ranieri’s tweaks to the menu at the training ground? “After games, we’d have chicken burgers and potato wedges and he changed them to sweet potatoes and pasta. I understand his point but the lads liked what we were used to, chicken and wedges.”

 

The recriminations rumbled on with Simpson and Jamie Carragher exchanging terse views on social media. The former Liverpool defender wondered where Leicester’s work ethic had come from after Ranieri’s departure. Simpson responded by pointing out who had more league medals. “I had a little spat with Carragher on Twitter,” he adds. “And he kept bringing it [the meeting] up, but I couldn’t reply, because there wasn’t a meeting. Carragher’s been in a dressing room, so before he jumps on the bandwagon at least try and get the information, he will know somebody who knows somebody [in the Leicester dressing room]. We beat his team [Liverpool] that night, didn’t we, anyway? I respect Carragher 100 per cent: he captained Liverpool, won the Champions League, played for England. I’ve watched documentaries on him, saw him go round his old estate, a similar council estate lad like me, just wanted to play football.

 

“We hold our hands up as players; we should have been doing better. What’s not been spoken about is it was difficult all of a sudden trying to fit in the Premier League and the Champions League. When we won the title, we had the whole week to prepare for our opponents, and then all of a sudden we were flying around. If we’d played on the Wednesday, come Friday some of the lads were having a cool-down, so we never really trained as a group. I spoke to Ryan Giggs at the BBC [Sports Personality of the Year] awards when we won the [team of the year] award, and he said it took them [United] a while to get used to the Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday-Wednesday regime.”

 

It seemed that the Leicester players were reserving their best performances for Europe. “It looked like that from results. Other teams in the Champions League looked at us and thought, ‘It’s only Leicester’, similar to how teams thought when we won the title. This season in the Premier League we’ve got the gold badge on our shirts, and everyone wants to beats us.

 

“Last season, it was basically the same team but this season we had new players coming in, the tactics changed, I missed some games, we lost Kasper [Schmeichel] and Drinky [Danny Drinkwater] for a little while. So there was no flow. We never settled.”

 

Ranieri’s assistant, Shakespeare, stepped up as caretaker, initially interim, and now to the end of the season, and had an immediate impact. Simpson was not surprised. ‘Shakey’ has always been a popular coach at Leicester, respected for his man-management as well as tactical nous. “Even the year I was here when Nigel [Pearson] was the manager, and I wasn’t playing and found it difficult, Shakey was good at keeping me going. He’s been an influence on everyone,” Simpson adds.

 

There was a feeling that the champions were being made to be more cautious under Ranieri, but Shakespeare immediately changed, getting the ball forward to Vardy quicker, and telling his right back to attack more. “He’s encouraged us to go forward more,” Simpson says.

 

He has probably been Leicester’s most consistent outfield player this season, and has been allowed to push on, supporting Riyad Mahrez more, even contributing assists. “Riyad wants me to attack, as there are more players round him this season than last season.” Losing N’Golo Kanté was clearly a blow, although Wilfred Ndidi is increasingly impressing. “Wilfred has settled into the team; him and Drinky have that midfield relationship.”

 

Since Shakespeare took over, Leicester have won five on the spin in the Premier League, steering them away from the danger zone, and reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Simpson hopes the manager is appointed long-term. “He’s got the job now, and it’s looking really good. It’s the chairman’s decision but, for me, Shakey’s getting everything right at the moment — training, who might need an extra rest, who might need an arm round the shoulder. The camp’s happy. I don’t see why he shouldn’t get it, and I can’t see any complaints from the lads if he did. Every one of the lads is working their socks off for him.”

 

Simpson was speaking yesterday afternoon in his house, sitting in a large front room shorn of adornments apart from a replica of the Premier League trophy he won under Ranieri. Simpson’s gratitude towards the Italian runs deep. When Ranieri arrived in the summer of 2015, Simpson’s life and career was at a crossroads. He was being eased out of Leicester after being convicted of assaulting Stephanie Ward, his former partner who he has a daughter with.

 

“I was stood there in the dock, thinking there’s only two ways this is going to go. I’m either going out the front door, or the back. I had my bag packed. Then I heard the words, ‘You can go’. ” Simpson avoided custody, instead receiving 300 hours’ community service which he spent in a charity shop and then helping people with mental health problems. He’s finished his community work, but has stayed in touch with those he came into contact with, attending their Christmas party and giving them a table football game. “That period made me question myself and my life and made me think. I’m a different person now.”

 

But the club were embarrassed by his behaviour and wanted him gone. “I got told, ‘You’re allowed to leave’. Some clubs came in, and I just said, ‘No.’ I was happy at Leicester, they’re a top bunch of lads.’ Claudio came in and told me, ‘You’re down the pecking order. It might be better if you found another club.’ I didn’t like hearing that. Then in training I was on the bench in the 11 v 11.

 

“Kenny [Brady], my agent, said ‘Give it until January, because he likes defenders.’ I trained with the 21s, then got in the squad, worked hard, and Claudio pulled me into his office. He said, ‘Your attitude has been top class. I apologise. I think you could be my guy at right back if you keep training like this.’ Claudio was great for me.”

 

He improved him as a defender, getting him to come across and cover if any of the centre backs are pulled out of position. Ranieri turned Simpson into arguably the best defensive English right back in the league (although far less attacking than Kyle Walker and Nathaniel Clyne) yet he has never been called up by England. “I do feel in the last two seasons, I’ve been on the top of my game. I am different to Kyle and Nathaniel. I do feel, defensively, I’m up there. It is still my dream to play for England. When Drinky made his England debut, I was proud of him. Jamie’s still scoring goals for England.

 

“I hope that [conviction and community service] stuff isn’t affecting the chance for me to have a call-up for England. Yes, I’ve made mistakes, I have to live with it now. The image I have — ask anybody at any club I’ve played for. I’m an honest, hard-working lad who’s bubbly in the dressing room. I’m a winner. As I’ve got older I started to appreciate football even more. What I do now after games has changed. Everything, resting, stretching,

 

“When I got home on Saturday, I watched Atletico Madrid’s second half against Malaga. I watch the clips of Atletico anyway [before Wednesday’s quarter-final]. I wanted to watch them live. Atletico have got that good bond like us. They all work together, got a good manager [Diego Simeone]. They’re favourites. For us, it might not happen again. We want to enjoy it, give it a go, and get them back to the King Power because anything can happen there with our fans.”

 

He has souvenirs of Europe from his time at Manchester United. “We played Roma and I asked Francesco Totti for his shirt. He said, ‘Sorry, I swapped with Rooney.’ But then the Roma kitman came in the dressing room with Totti’s first-half shirt. That was real class. I was a young kid, he didn’t need to. But he remembered.”

 

Simpson has an extra incentive in Europe. A request from his five-year-old daughter. “She calls me ‘champion’. I’ve not got to see her too much but we were on FaceTime the other week, and her friends were in the background, saying, ‘Leicester are crap, Manchester City and Manchester United are better’. ‘But we’re still in the Champions League,’ I said to them, having a joke with them. She’s got the Match Attax card of me, always got it with her, I think. She’s proud. She was on the pitch when we got the trophy, and the club gave her a chocolate medal. She keeps asking: ‘Can I have another chocolate medal?’ Well, there’s only one option now. ‘I’ll get you another one and I want one myself, a real one’. ’’ Europe beckons.

[TheUltimateWinner]

Another one  Someone in PR definitely thought there needed to be two sides to the story with the whole Ranieri MNF fiasco

[fuchsntf]

18 minutes ago, TheUltimateWinner said:

Another one  Someone in PR definitely thought there needed to be two sides to the story with the whole Ranieri MNF fiasco

So fking what, it got done..

[TiffToff88]

Its either the PR team at the club are looking for a raise, or the British media have finally realised we're the nations last hope in the top European competition so they're trying to get the neutrals back on our side. My money is on the former.

[Ric Flair]

I know he's obviously an odious character for what he did to his ex missus, but there's something about Simpson I can't help but like. He's certainly been as good as anyone this season for us, he's just very, very effective.

[Guest Danny Clender]

Chicken Burgers standing out as the number 1 issue again. 

 

[Gerard]

Great interview if anyone want's to read it properly.

 

Simpson has made his mistakes in life and football but reading between the lines he has matured a lot in the last few years and is trying his best. From being on the subs bench in a Leicester vs Leicester training match and told to find another club to making the right back spot his own and winning the Premier League and the story might not end there.

 

 Well done Danny boy.

[foxy boxing]

"Feed the team chicken burgers and they will score, feed the team chicken burgers and they will score"  

[Koke]

When the club told him he could leave, the likely destination for him was the Championship. No wonder he refused to leave. Funnily enough the RB he eventually replaced is now playing in the Championship, whilst Simpson will play against Atletico Madrid tomorrow. .

 

Simpson is actually a very intelligent defender. He covers his CBs extremely well and his positional sense is outstanding  

[Out Foxed]

11 minutes ago, Koke said:

When the club told him he could leave, the likely destination for him was the Championship. No wonder he refused to leave. Funnily enough the RB he eventually replaced is now playing in the Championship, whilst Simpson will play against Atletico Madrid tomorrow. .

 

Simpson is actually a very intelligent defender. He covers his CBs extremely well and his positional sense is outstanding  

shame he's a c**t

[MPH]

I bet Claudio said he was our no1 right back.

 

must of seen how good our other right backs were

 

 

 

 

 

in all seriousness to Simpson, his game could of gone to pot after the incident with his gf. Never really threw his toys out the pram and knuckled down and worked hard. He don't need telling what people thought of him for that incident.

 

 

I respect him for  how he's applied himself since then.