Forget Tinkerman, Ranieri is all thinker

Matt Hughes|Evening Standard|In Gelsenkirchen

14 April 2012

Perhaps Claudio Ranieri is a tactical genius after all. The Italian has been widely mocked for changing his team more often than his trousers, but last night's selection was just right as Chelsea recorded a hugely impressive victory in a hostile environment.

Just when you thought he had run out of pots and pans the Tinkerman struck again, with a new shape and strategy. As well as the now-customary five changes Ranieri reverted to a back three and played Jesper Gronkjaer out of position up front, which worked a treat. Besiktas were never allowed into the game and the visitors' packed midfield ensured complete control. Despite his own desire to be called a tinkerer, Ranieri deserves to be known as the Thinkerman.

The modest manager refused to take credit for a result that ensured Chelsea will be seeded for Friday's second-round draw in Nyon, but the people that matter have noted his progress. Roman Abramovich is known to be very impressed with a man he had not heard of 12 months ago and it's no coincidence that Sven-Goran Eriksson has been making more positive noises about staying with England.

Ranieri said: "Abramovich was the first person in the dressing room at the end and he just said 'well done' to us. He's a very kind person.

"I am very pleased with my players and the feeling between me and them is very strong. This was a big step for us and a very good performance. We could still draw Celta Vigo or Porto and must be in a good condition in February."

Chelsea's progress in Europe has been even more impressive than their domestic form. Ranieri's side have won all three of their away games, scoring seven times without conceding a single goal, and dominated a group containing sides such as Lazio and Besiktas. Their fivepoint winning margin is a chasm in the group stages and, apart from the blip against Besiktas at home, they have been a class apart.

Despite the wealth of attacking resources at Ranieri's disposal and his expertise in rotating them, a sound defence has been the key. He is Italian, after all. Carlo Cudicini has been beaten just once in the last nine matches and should such parsimony continue then Chelsea could go all the way on all fronts. Frank Lampard, for one, believes that they have the ability to return to Gelsenkirchen for the Champions League final in May.

He said: "We've had a taster and want to come back here next year for the final. The pitch isn't the best but it's one of the best stadiums around. This is one of the best nights ever and is right up there. Lazio was fantastic for us, Istanbul for England was good, but this is up there. Against some really hostile fans this is a great result.

"We've looked a real class act throughout the group stages. Our away record is brilliant and that's something we have to carry through. It's very difficult in the Champions League but we know we can go away and get a result."

Having shrugged off a torrent of missiles and silenced a Turkish crowd that bayed for blood, Chelsea will rightly feel they can win anywhere in the world. While the 4-0 victory in Lazio was noteworthy for the breathtaking quality of their attacking football, this performance was in some ways more impressive, consummately professional in a game they did not even need to win.

Besiktas had just one shot on target, a limp one at that, and Chelsea had several chances to score before Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Wayne Bridge sealed the victory with late goals.

Celestine Babayaro and Geremi both missed good chances but the scorers deserved their milestones, Hasselbaink celebrating his first Champions League goal and Bridge opening his Chelsea account.

Lampard added: "We couldn't really have played better as a team. We passed the ball around when we could've come here and been sloppy as we'd already qualified, but we were really professional.

"The all-round team performance was brilliant. We've got a big squad now and it's really paying off. Everyone sticks together and no one moans when they're left out. Everyone who comes in does a job for the team."

For that the manager, above all, deserves the utmost credit.

Ranieri made his players train for 10 minutes on the pitch after the game before giving them today off, and he is now already preparing for Saturday's Premiership game against Bolton.

Hasselbaink said: "The boss is already talking about the next game, it's just the way he is. He knows we're happy but is already planning ahead. He doesn't want to let us dream and straight away, in nice English, tells us to forget about this and think about Saturday.

"That game is very important as well. I think it's going to be an extremely hard match for us, as every Premiership match is hard."

Hasselbaink is hoping his first goal in the Champions League proper will prove enough to keep him in the side.

He added: "It's important for me to score, as I want to hold on to the shirt. It's always a battle and only good for the team. We're all benefiting from the the competition.

"We didn't play as well as we could in the first half as it wasn't easy. In the second half we turned them over and created things. We looked really solid as a team and that was the most important thing."

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Forget Tinkerman, Ranieri is all thinker

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