LONDON: Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri is confident a good turn he did for Fulham coach Claudio Ranieri will not come back to bite him when his side clash with the Premier League’s bottom club on Sunday.
Sarri, who will hope his side rebound from the 3-1 reverse by Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday, extended an invitation to his fellow Italian to watch a training session when he was in England earlier this season.
“I spoke with him for three days — I don’t remember exactly — one month ago, or 45 days ago,” said Sarri, who dined with Ranieri afterwards in the Chelsea training ground canteen.
“He came to Cobham to see two, three trainings. He wanted to speak with me, with Gianfranco (Zola).”
Ranieri, who was out of work at the time but was hired by Fulham last month after they sacked Slavisa Jokanovic, had years earlier allowed Sarri, then a banker who on the side coached amateur team Antella, to watch a training session at his Serie A outfit Fiorentina.
“I went to speak to him when he was the coach of Fiorentina, 20 years ago, maybe. I don’t remember very well, but I don’t think he can remember this meeting,” said Sarri.
Sarri has revived Chelsea since replacing Antonio Conte, guiding them to fourth in the table — seven points adrift of leaders Manchester City — and the last 32 of the Europa League.
He said he studied Ranieri’s teams from afar, notably the Leicester side he coached to a remarkable Premier League title in 2016.
“Usually a team of Claudio is really very solid,” said the 59-year-old.
“They usually defend very well, sometimes low, but very well.
“Usually he has a team very dangerous at counter-attacks, like in Leicester, but not only in Leicester.”
Sarri said 67-year-old Ranieri, who acquired the nickname ‘The Tinkerman’ during his four year spell in charge of Chelsea from 2000-2004, said he would not go so far as to classify his compatriot as a friend.
“Friend is a big word, I think, but I like him very much,” said Sarri.
Sarri, though, could not fathom why there had not been offers for Ranieri’s services from big clubs following his sacking by Leicester in the 2016-17 campaign.
“Usually the presidents are very strange,” he said.
Ranieri eventually ended up managing mid-level French Ligue 1 outfit Nantes for one season, leaving them in May this year, and was at a loose end when Fulham came calling.
“Usually you can live very well for two, three months, then you’re in trouble,” said Sarri.
“Every coach, I think, is like this. For two months you’re happy because you have time, and after two months you miss adrenaline.”
Chelsea’s Maurizio Sarri not worried by Claudio Ranieri ‘insider knowledge’ ahead of west London derby
Chelsea’s Maurizio Sarri not worried by Claudio Ranieri ‘insider knowledge’ ahead of west London derby
- Sarri is confident a good turn he did for Fulham coach Claudio Ranieri will not come back to bite him
- Sarri has revived Chelsea since replacing Antonio Conte, guiding them to fourth in the table
FIA President Ben Sulayem highlights new safety boost with Hankook joining as Global Partner
- New role sees one of the world’s leading tire makers join global platform for sustainable innovations in motorsport and mobility
DUBAI: FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has welcomed Hankook, one of the world’s leading tire makers, as the FIA’s newest Global Partner in the organization’s drive to boost safety in motorsport and mobility.
Hankook has officially joined the FIA’s Global Partner Programme after more than three years as an associate of the global governing body for motorsport and the federation for mobility organizations worldwide.
Hankook will be an Official Partner of the annual FIA Awards as well as Official Partner of the FIA Sustainable Innovation Series, a global event platform, run in close cooperation with FIA World Championships.
These include the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, FIA Formula One World Championship, FIA World Endurance Championship and FIA World Rally Championship from 2026 through 2028.
Ben Sulayem said: “Sustainability and technological innovation are at the heart of our missions at the FIA, so I am delighted to welcome Hankook as a new partner.
“This new partnership with Hankook reflects the global growth of our FIA Global Partner Programme, and through collaboration it will strengthen our work to make motor sport and mobility safer.”
The FIA Sustainable Innovation Series convenes industry leaders to focus on “track to road” opportunities, translating innovation developed in motorsport into wider automotive and mobility applications.
As the exclusive technical partner and tire supplier of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship and the FIA World Rally Championships, Hankook supports the FIA’s ambition to use motorsport as a platform for progress and responsible innovation.
These championships provide a live testing environment for new materials, performance standards and safety solutions, with learnings that can be transferred from competition to everyday mobility.
Jongho Park, president and COO, Hankook Tire Europe, said: “The FIA and Hankook share the belief that technological innovation can only be effective on a sustained basis if it combines safety, fairness and responsibility.
“As Global Partner of the FIA, we want to use our expertise in technology and sustainable tire development to drive the mobility of the future, in motorsport and beyond.”
Craig Edmondson, chief commercial officer of the FIA, said: “Through our expanding Global Partner Programme, the FIA is working alongside leading international organizations that share our commitment to driving innovation, sustainability, and safety across both motorsport and mobility
“We are pleased to welcome Hankook into the FIA Global Partner Programme. Together, we will continue to accelerate progress and shape a more sustainable, future‑focused mobility ecosystem.”
