Ranieri hopes for more tears of joy

Claudio Ranieri is ready for another emotional encounter when his Inter side face Marseille in their Champions League last-16 return leg.

Inter ended a run of nine games without a win in all competitions on Friday by triumphing 2-0 in their Serie A clash with Chievo.

Ranieri, who had been under intense pressure going into the game, broke into tears after Inter struck twice in the final three minutes of normal time through Walter Samuel and Diego Milito.

And the Italian manager was making no apologies for his show of emotion.

“We do not talk about it in the locker room,” Ranieri told reporters.

“But there are sensations, emotions that one cannot control or decide and I hope to live out many others in my career.”

Ranieri took plenty of positives from his side’s performance in Verona, and said a similar effort was needed to overturn their 1-0 first-leg deficit against Marseille.

“Friday’s success against Chievo encouraged us,” the former Roma coach said. “The squad have always given everything.”

“In Verona, we scored at the end of the game. This is a positive message: fight until the end. Inter’s players have never give up.”

Ranieri was particularly enthused by the effort shown by playmaker Wesley Sneijder, whose form had been criticised prior to Friday’s win.

“Against Chievo, Wesley Sneijder was everywhere on the field; he helped his team-mates a lot,” Ranieri said.

“You could see he was fully motivated. This is the Sneijder I want and who can change our team.”

Inter host Marseille at the San Siro on Tuesday.