During the 2002–03 season and throughout his Chelsea days, Ranieri was accused of over-rotating his squad, picking up the nickname of "The Tinkerman" from the British media.
I 2002-03-sæsonen og i det meste af sin tid i klubben blev Ranieri beskyldt for at rotere for meget med spillerne på holdet, hvilket indbragte ham navnet "the Tinkerman" fra de engelske medier.