Inside the mind of Claudio Ranieri

13 April 2012

Ken Dyer gives a unique insight into the mercurial decisionmaking of the Tinkerman whose changes saw Chelsea's European dream fall apart spectacularly in Monaco.

Just imagine, for a moment, that you are Claudio Ranieri. Close your eyes and concentrate hard. It's a balmy Tuesday evening on the Cote D'Azur and your team are in the middle of their European Cup semi-final first leg, their biggest match of the season so far.

You're standing in front of the dugouts in the Stade Louis II in Monaco, just across the border from your home country, Italy.

Every so often you feel the need to come to the touchline and wave your arms about. You're not sure if the players get the message but you're from Rome and it makes you feel better.

Down behind the goal to your left, the blue-shirted fans of the club who employ you are happy enough.

They love you anyway because, you believe, you're different from the normal English coach.

You're not very tactful, not politically correct as far as football is concerned, and you believe they feel sorry for you because they think you're going to get the bullet despite doing such a good job.

The score is 1-1 and the second half is under way. You've already made a change at half-time, bringing on Juan Sebastian Veron for Jesper Gronkjaer, who is lightning fast but erratic.

It's a risky move because Veron hasn't played much this season but you don't mind a gamble, after all, you're the Tinkerman.

Then suddenly, not long into the second half, there is a kerfuffle off the ball. You don't see it at first because you're busy with tactics but one of your players, Claude Makelele, is down and looking as though he's going to roll all the way to the Med. The next thing is that the fussy Swiss ref, Urs Meier, has waved a red card in the direction of Monaco's Andreas Zikos.

Makelele gets a yellow which means he misses the second leg but you can worry about that later. At the moment, things are just getting better and better.

You steal a quick glance at the opposition dugout, Didier Deschamps is preparing to make the textbook switch, sacrificing a striker in Dado Prso and pushing on a defensive midfielder, Edouard Cisse.

What's to be done? Stick at 4-4-2, keeping it the same? Others would do that, but not you. You're the Tinkerman and you want to win the game. . . so roll the dice.

Victory would be your greatest moment, beating even that win over Arsenal which meant so much to everyone at Chelsea.

It's time to show Mr Abramovich and Mr Kenyon what they will miss when you go. You've done a great job and still they want to be rid of you.

So show them you don't just tinker with the team for effect. You do it because it makes the team play better.

Sven-Goran Eriksson, Jose Mourinho - they can eat their hearts out. Neither could have done a better job at Chelsea this season, not with the pressure you've had to endure since that day early in July when, travelling back to begin pre-season, you heard that Roman Abramovich was taking over.

Ever since then you've known deep down you're on borrowed time but you'll show them, you'll work to the bitter end to reach your goal.

Suddenly it's clear what has to be done - put on Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, make it three strikers and win the game in the most spectacular way possible.

Then, they just might have second thoughts about chopping you at the end of the season . . . although probably not.

Mario Melchiot can come off, he's not playing that well and put Scott Parker back there. You know he's not really a full-back, come to think of it he's not really a wide midfielder either, but the modern-day footballer has to learn to play everywhere.

Anyway Chelsea are in control now, you're sure of it. Feel that sword in your back loosening a little already.

But what's happening? Parker is struggling, you better do something about it, take him off and put on Robert Huth. He's a central defender by choice but he'll be okay there.

What the hell is going on now? Veron should be on the left but he's come right, Huth keeps galloping up the right wing, the strikers are all over the place and Monaco have just gone and scored two late goals.

Keep your composure, Claudio, retain your dignity. The final whistle goes, it is a nightmare, thank you Didier, well played, see you at Stamford Bridge.

This is a long walk now, to the tunnel. You don't know what they will be thinking up there in the expensive seats, but you can imagine.

It was a gamble, it didn't work and now you're finished. Someone is twisting that sword in your back and they have another reason for waving goodbye to you at the end of the season.

Head up, though, Claudio, it's not the end of the world. Take the blame in the press conference but if those players had done what they were supposed to do, you would have won. It's obvious.

We will see how Mourinho or whoever it will be, does in your place next season.

In the meantime, keep working, keep going to the bitter end. You're like that. And the few million pounds Chelsea will owe you, will come in handy back in Rome. You could even open another couple of antique shops for the wife.