Realistic Ranieri silences title talk

14 April 2012

Chelsea's players are starting to believe they can bring the Championship to Stamford Bridge for the first time since 1955, but for Claudio Ranieri that mouthwatering prospect remains a distant dream.

After strolling to a comprehensive victory over Newcastle without breaking sweat, Frank Lampard and Damien Duff both ventured the belief they could win the Premiership, before being scolded for their wide-eyed enthusiasm by their manager. Loose talk may no longer cost lives, but complacency can compromise vital Premiership points.

At the start of the season Ranieri said that only a "stupid man" would tip Chelsea to win the league and he is sticking by his prognosis. The Italian is no dunce. Ridiculed on arrival in England for his eccentric manner and tinkering tactics, he shows signs of maturing into a top-class manager this season.

Any man can spend £111million on accumulating the world's best players but Ranieri has accomplished so much more, forging a disparate collection of individual talents and egos into a team with a genuine understanding and will-to-win. His biggest achievement is keeping all his players happy and even top-scorer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, whose services have been surplus to requirements in the last two games, left the stadium with a smile.

The simplistic secret to Ranieri's success lies in his ability to pick a team capable of winning every game but he is refusing to get carried away. He said: "I will only believe when I have touched the title and not before. The players are young but for a manager it's different. At Christmas last year we were very close, but Arsenal and Manchester United said goodbye.

"My players are young and can dream but I am a concrete man and must work hard. I dream sometimes but when I wake up I start to work. The dream ends when the match starts."

Much of Chelsea's football yesterday had a dream-like quality, particularly in the 17 fruitful minutes before halftime that yielded three goals, and it is only Ranieri's humility that prevents him uttering an obvious truth. His side are genuine contenders.

Chelsea fans may still be dizzy and drunk on their ever-improving fortunes but the players showed no signs of a hangover from their Roman holiday, producing a performance every bit as stylish as Tuesday's 4-0 away win over Lazio.

Chelsea's dominance was almost embarrassing and had they maintained the pressure against 10 men in the second-half they could have won by, if not a cricket then certainly a rugby score. No wonder confidence is coursing through their veins.

Lampard said: "People were expecting us to slip up but we've proved we're here to stay. It's the first time we all think we can win something and I mean the title. We have to keep winning games to keep up with Arsenal and Manchester United but we're doing that." After their rivals huffed and puffed their way to unconvincing victories, Chelsea's performance will have ruffled a few feathers. For the first time this season Ranieri retained the same personnel and formation, based on a midfield diamond that is already looking perfectly polished.

After initially looking uncomfortable away from his beloved left-flank, Duff is now revelling in the free role behind the strikers, while Juan Veron is finally performing to his potential. The Argentinian's key role in two victories over his old club has clearly boosted his confidence and, given freedom to roam from the left by the never-ending industry of Claude Makelele, he ran the game, demanding the ball and even making the odd tackle.

Chelsea's dominance was established by their superior movement in midfieldbut the first goal was a tale of two full-backs, Glen Johnson smashing home a cross from Wayne Bridge. Hernan Crespo poached the second following a wild shot from Duff and Lampard got the third from the penalty spot, after Andy O'Brien was adjudged to have pulled back Adrian Mutu and sent off.

The second-half was little more than an exhibition of keep-ball, notable only for a deserved goal for Duff and Eidur Gudjohnsen's sixth goal of the season.

The Icelandic international joined Crespo and Mutu on six goals, with Hasselbaink leading the way with eight, showing that Ranieri is rotating his resources to perfection.

It may sound stupid to some, but after a decade of red domination blue really could be this season's colour.

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Realistic Ranieri silences title talk

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