Italian Claudio Ranieri , current Sampdoria manager and architect of Leicester's historic 2016 Premier League title , expressed his pride at the feat accomplished in England and recounted the psychological techniques used to keep his players to the fullest physically and psychologically.

Ranieri, who has been training for Sampdoria since October 2019, lives in isolation in Italy due to the coronavirus emergency and reviewed in an interview broadcast late on Monday on " Sky Sport " television his historic Premier League at the helm of Leicester .

" Dedramatize " is the word used by Ranieri to summarize the psychological work he did with his players to avoid pressure from them as they saw league leaders day after day, ahead of the colossi in England. "It was important that the boys did not feel too many responsibilities . I was afraid that the pressure might come to them, as it was a team that came out with the aim of saving themselves and that at that time was fighting with the older ones," said Ranieri.

"So I wanted to set small goals , little by little. First avoid the descent, then fight for Europe and then fight for the title. I did this way until the end, I always wanted to de-dramatize," he added.

He also reviewed one of the most surprising decisions on the way to the Premier, when, after a defeat against Arsenal on Matchday 25, he gave his players a full week off. "It was a period in which we had three games against consecutive 'greats', Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal , and, to joke, the players asked me for a few days of vacation depending on the points we would add. In the end (English, Jamie ) Vardy told me that, if they added nine points, they deserved a week off, "said Ranieri.

"We beat Liverpool 2-0, City 3-1 and lost 2-1 with Arsenal, playing the second half with ten and receiving the decisive goal in 95. In the end I told them that the result is the result of a thousand factors, but the benefits are not. I told them 'go home, for me it is as if you have won'. And I gave you a week of vacation, "he continued.

Some decisions that ended up being rewarded, with Leicester who, after saving himself on the last day of the previous championship, was crowned champion of England. "I am very happy for the people who came . I remember that letters came from all over the world. There were Italians who traveled to Leicester, even without being able to go to the stadium. They came to participate in the party in the city," Ranieri said.

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