By Simon Austin

Ranieri was reunited with his former players on Saturday

It must have been like seeing an ex-girlfriend who has flourished since she dumped you.

Claudio Ranieri sat in the stands at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and watched his former charges demolish Bolton 5-1 to maintain their 100% start to the season.

Ranieri was responsible for buying most of the Chelsea players out on the pitch - Claude Makelele, Frank Lampard, Peter Cech, Joe Cole, Eidur Gudjohnsen and William Gallas - but it is Jose Mourinho who gets the acclaim.

But Ranieri is not bitter. Mourinho invited him into the Chelsea dressing room after the match and the 53-year-old Italian gratefully accepted.

"It was very, very good to speak to my ex-pupils, my children," he told BBC Sport.

"It was quite emotional to speak with Frank, John, Eidur, Claude and my other players.

"I built very well at Chelsea and now Mourinho has completed the rebuilding. Now Chelsea have won the title and in the future I'm sure they can win again, because they are very strong and powerful."

Ranieri says he was touched by Mourinho's invitation.

There had been reports of friction between the pair in the past, with Ranieri talking up his part in Chelsea's success and Mourinho talking it down, but the Italian insists they get along well.

"I met him one year ago and it was good," he says.

I went to Eindhoven to talk to Robben - I bought all my players, everybody Claudio Ranieri

"Saturday was good as well. He was very kind to invite me into the dressing room."

But Ranieri does take exception to Mourinho's suggestion he was not responsible for signing two outstanding members of the Chelsea squad, Cech and Arjen Robben.

In an interview with The Sunday Times newspaper in February, Mourinho said a "mystery man" had signed the duo, not Ranieri.

When asked if this "mystery man" was Sven-Goran Eriksson - who was courted by Chelsea during the latter part of Ranieri's final season at Stamford Bridge - Mourinho refused to answer.

But Ranieri says: "I bought those players. I went to Eindhoven to talk to Robben. I bought all my players, everybody."

He doesn't like to talk about his final season at the club, when he was the self-proclaimed "dead man walking".

The club made it pretty clear they would be getting a new coach at the end of the season, without actually sacking Ranieri.

Despite the rumour and intrigue surrounding him, the Italian led Chelsea to second in the Premiership and the semi-finals of the Champions League.

"I'm not angry - that's life sometimes," he says.

"I've spoken about this a lot of times. Now I don't like to talk about the same thing. I look forward always."

Ranieri is proud of his achievements at the club.

I like English football a lot and would like to come back. Claudio Ranieri

"To start with it wasn't very easy, but after that it was very good," he says.

"We finished second and got to the semi-finals of the Champions League. It's not important if I have credit or not, I think I worked well.

"Now it's important for me to have a new project."

And that project could involve a return to the Premiership.

"I had some interviews with other clubs in other countries, but I have to wait for the right job," Ranieri says.

"I like English football a lot and would like to come back. I love the English fans."

"I would like to come back. I have had some interviews with clubs in other countries, but I have to wait for the right job. I want to get back into football - it's my life.

"I know the Italian and Spanish leagues and the English Premiership very well so they would be the obvious places to go.

Many would doubtless welcome the return of the affable and entertaining Italian.