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It is eight years since Claudio Ranieri managed in the Premier League - but he has lost none of the charm that made him English football's favourite uncle during his stint as Chelsea manager.

Win, lose or draw during his time at Stamford Bridge, the Italian would always produce a smile (and often a comedy quote or two) during his post-match interviews.

He never really mastered the English language but that did not stop him giving it a go.
The 60-year-old was just as amiable when I met him in person during a recent flying visit to London to talk about Chelsea's prospects, and his own plans.

"My English is not bad after all this time?" Ranieri asks at one point, with a trademark grin.

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It is a goal you could probably watch all day. Paul Gascoigne bursts into the box and plays in Teddy Sheringham, who shapes to shoot but wrong-foots the defender, before rolling the ball across to an unmarked Alan Shearer to arrow his shot into the top corner.

"You have to say it's magnificent," was the verdict of veteran ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ commentator Barry Davies at the time, words which still ring true today.

Many of you have probably guessed I am talking about England's third goal in their 4-1 demolition of the Netherlands in their final group game at Euro 96, and most of you will have already seen it countless times already too. If not, please make sure you watch the clip below, it's definitely worth your while.

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Wembley

Speaking in the bowels of Wembley Stadium in the aftermath of Liverpool's thrilling Carling Cup victory over Cardiff City, Reds boss Kenny Dalglish spelt out how the club's first trophy in six years was important to "an awful lot of people".

And he put it down to "the work of everyone, not just me".

What Dalglish did not elaborate on was exactly what it meant to him personally. For that, we will have to remember his reaction to Anthony Gerrard's missed penalty that settled a topsy-turvy shoot-out at the end of an extraordinary game.

Dalglish was clearly visibly moved as he celebrated his first trophy in English football since he won the 1995 Premier League title with Blackburn.

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