“It may be an unusual situation for a manager in England to be in because ambitions and plans are a little clearer here than in Italy, but, like all Italian managers, Ranieri thrives under pressure. In Italy, managers don’t know how long they’re going to be in charge for and there’s always rumours about someone taking over. Ranieri keeps saying he doesn’t mind the situation because he’s used to it, and I believe him.”Despite his sacking at Chelsea and his short-lived spell at Watford, Vialli has lost none of his enthusiasm for the English game. “Work commitments mean that I’m watching the Italian Premiership closely at the moment,” said Vialli, who will soon complete Uefa’s top coaching badge, “but my hope is to be back in England as a manager I just love it here. I was at the Olympic Stadium last weekend for the Rome derby and it was a shambles. There were millions of viewers watching that game and we called it off because supporters invaded the pitch.

Italian football is a laughing stock.”He added: “The financial situation is bad, too There’s no credibility. I very much like the Italian game, but my desire, my aspiration is to be a manager in this country. And I am available.”Available for an improbable return to Chelsea? “I would love to be here again as manager,” admitted Vialli, who is probably more likely to be battling with, ironically, Ranieri for the vacant post at Tottenham this summer. “He’s in a difficult situation,” the 39-year-old said, “but that’s the job of a manager.

It isn’t easy for him, but, then, it’s much more of a shock when you are sacked suddenly, as happened to me. These rumours have gone on for so long that it has allowed Ranieri to turn things to his advantage, especially in the way he has been talking to his players. It is, Vialli believes, an impossible environment for Ranieri to work in. He’s done a great job in terms of bringing young players through, signing great players and playing good football, but he needs trophies to convince everybody.”Ranieri, though, will not be given another season to break his duck. Moves are already afoot to replace the Italian in June, with Eriksson and Celtic’s Martin O’Neill now favourites for the job.