Claudio Ranieri has branded Italian football “hell” following his recent departure from Roma.
Ranieri spent 18 months at the Stadio Olimpico but walked away following a fourth successive defeat earlier this month which sparked a violent protest from supporters at the club’s training ground.
And the ex-Juventus boss pulled no punches when quizzed about life with the Rome-based club.
Ranieri told Rai TV: “In football there is heaven and hell. You can decide where you want to stand between the two but compared to England, it's hell here.
“I still want to coach. England fascinates me but I also like the Italian league.
“This year at Roma I became the only scapegoat but now there's them, the players, who must show everything.”
The 59-year-old then went on to criticise some members of the Roma squad, appearing to single out captain Francesco Totti who was often named as a substitute by the former Chelsea boss.
Ranieri continued: “This year too many people let their personal interests get in the way of those of the team.
“When we spoke in the changing rooms everyone was agreed that we needed to rotate the team but then on the pitch when certain players were substituted ...
“Even now that I'm longer there, someone will have to sit on the bench.
“There are players who give 110% for one coach but then don't gel with another.
“Of course I believe that a good coach needs to make the most of each of his players' characteristics. But when I was a player I tried hard to understand what my coach wanted.
“I wasn't a great player but my motto was 'never give up'. That's like the English spirit, the players are lions and you have to hold them back.
“Here, this year with Roma I was disappointed that not every player had this spirit.”