Ranieiri still hopeful of claiming a trophy
Claudio Ranieri claims his Chelsea future is still undecided but admits his great wish is to walk out of Stamford Bridge with his head held high having lifted a major trophy.
Yet he insists tomorrow’s home Premiership clash with Southampton, in which Chelsea seek to end a run of five matches without a win, is just as important as the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Monaco five days later.
He said: “There is a big challenge between us and Manchester United (for second place in the league) and I hope to win.”
The Italian, who recalls first-choice goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini after seven weeks out with a broken hand, admits his job has been under pressure since Russian oil-baron Roman Abramovich completed a takeover of the Blues in July.
And there is now a strong school of thought that significant moves are being made in the background at the club without Ranieri’s personal knowledge – moves now leading to growing speculation that Chelsea will make a move to bring England captain David Beckham back home to the Premiership from Real Madrid this summer.
Ranieri suggests this story is probably a figment of media imagination, saying: “I realise the press have to write something. It is your job.
“But I find it strange that this story comes up now. I have been very involved in the last weeks. I look at what happened and I said I would not be surprised if I finished my career here at Chelsea or if it continued – whatever happened.
“But in the end I want it to be a good job. I’ve worked very, very hard and I’m used to working this way. I think I have got the maximum.
“I think a lot of people know me better now than one year ago. Everybody has seen my reaction to pressure.
"It is good because many people have given me support and become close to me, not only Chelsea supporters but from everywhere.”
Ranieri, aged 52, has still failed to win a significant trophy in his managerial career, let alone his four years at Stamford Bridge, but he said: “Just wait. I can wait. I know it is difficult but I am still positive.”
However, for now he is focusing on Southampton.
“All I have on my mind right now is Southampton. They are a good team with excellent strikers in (James) Beattie and (Kevin) Phillips,” he said.
“I think we need to beat them because it would be a very good three points which we need to give us a little more confidence. That is never bad.
“Our results have gone down in the last few games but not our performances. And I am not afraid that the players have lost their focus. Our performances have been too good for that.
“You don’t make chances against Middlesbrough, Aston Villa and Newcastle unless your performance has been good. Sadly, we missed or hit the post and it has mean a few bad moments for us.”
Chelsea, however, have lost three and drawn two of their five games since their super-charged effort to beat bogey-side Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-final at Highbury.
But Ranieri said: “I see that my players are still strong. This project we have had is all new to them.
They have played for big clubs before but for many of them the country and the culture are new.
“It has been difficult but I have to thank them for their intelligence. Otherwise we would not have had this good season.”
Ranieri admits the loss of winger Damien Duff, after dislocating a shoulder last week for the second time this season, is a major blow.
The Irishman was out for a month last time from December 20 and then collected an Achilles injury when he tried a comeback.
Yet Ranieri refused to write him off completely for the rest of the campaign.
“Something could change and he may play again but it is the same in jury as before,” he said.
The manager also believes Cudicini’s return in place of fellow Italian Marco Ambrosio is not a gamble, despite the number one not having had any kind of practice game in the reserves since breaking the hand in early March.
“He has worked really hard on the rest of his fitness while injured and now he needs a game,” said Ranieri.
The Chelsea boss also welcomed the reduction of Marcel Desailly’s European ban from three to two matches after a successful appeal to UEFA.
Desailly was caught on television elbowing Monaco striker Fernando Morientes in the first leg but on hearing of today’s result Ranieri said: “Three matches is too much because Marcel was not trying to injure Morientes, he was just trying to break free from him and swung an arm.”
