We're about to enter the Chelsea era

Matt Hughes|Evening Standard|In Valencia

14 April 2012

If Chelsea confirm their current ascendancy over Arsenal on Sunday then Jose Mourinho will be indebted to an eccentric Italian commentator precariously balanced on one of Highbury's television gantries. Not that the manager would admit it, mind.

Mourinho may have dramatically accelerated Chelsea's development, but part of the self-belief they will take into Sunday's showdown stems from the work of his predecessor Claudio Ranieri. For the first time in five years Chelsea's players will cross the capital buoyed by the knowledge they have won at Highbury before.

Chelsea's dramatic victory in last season's Champions League quarterfinal may have been the high-water mark of Ranieri's reign but that should not detract from its significance. After 17 games without a win over their London rivals, Arsenal's Gunners were finally spiked.

Ranieri is currently struggling to come to terms with Valencia's elimination from the Champions League but will be back in the capital on Sunday to watch his old club for the first time. The prospect of Mourinho bending his ear before the game is about as likely as David Blunkett and Kimberly Quinn getting together to watch it on television, but for now at least Ranieri has one scalp his successor cannot claim - Arsenal.

Over lunch in his favourite Valencia restaurant, Ranieri reflects on his greatest night in football and offers his observations on how Chelsea can collect another derby victory.

He said: "We knew very well that Arsenal had three top, top players - Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires - and we had to stop them playing. I wanted to fight with them face to face, not sit back and wait to see what was going to happen. You have to play football against Arsenal and if you sit back and defend they will punish you.

"I knew we'd beat them sooner or later and when I saw the Champions League draw I thought this could be the moment. When they beat us in the league I told Roman Abramovich that the moment would come and eventually I was right.

"All the matches against Arsenal were very close - 2-2, 1-2, 1-1 - and we were frequently ahead. All the players were sure they were going to do something special. Everyone was united and after the draw at home we knew we'd win. The atmosphere before, during and after the match was incredible.

"The day after the match people grabbed me on the street - "Hey Claudio, we did it!" - and it was like we'd won a trophy. I know English people are very cold but they were hugging me in the street so it was a fantastic feeling." Ranieri led Chelsea to second in the Premiership and the Champions League semi-finals last season and is certain they have all the qualities to dominate English football for years.

He said: "Football is cyclical. There was the Manchester United cycle, the Arsenal cycle and the Chelsea cycle is coming. They can do what Manchester and Arsenal have done over the last few years. It's the right moment for Chelsea as Manchester are rebuilding and Arsenal's mind is on the Champions League, which is a constant distraction for them.

"Football is magical and some things you cannot explain. In my opinion, Arsenal should reach the semi-finals every year and after that it's down to luck, but it's never happened. No one can explain it. Not even Arsene Wenger knows the answer. They have so many good players and many world champions, but some things you cannot explain. Remember when Italy knocked Brazil out of the World Cup [in 1982]? It was impossible but it happened."

Chelsea have not won the league since 1955, but Ranieri believes they can achieve a Premiership and Champions League double this season.

He said: "Chelsea must be one of the favourites for the Champions League because Mourinho has won it before and my players had a good experience last year. It's possible for them to win the Champions League and the Premiership, why not?

"Chelsea are very strong. We did a very good job last year, putting the foundations in place and they're continuing to progress. I believe they will win the Premiership this season. I've never gambled in my life but if you told me to go to the bookmakers I'd gamble on Chelsea."

It was Ranieri's one footballing gamble, an outrageous tactical punt amid the casinos of Monaco, that cost him his job but there is no doubt he is partly responsible for Chelsea's current strength. The spine of Ranieri's side remains intact and his contribution-may have been even greater than was previously known, as he claims credit for the signings of Arjen Robben and Didier Drogba.

He said: "I was very happy Chelsea got Drogba because in my last meeting with Abramovich in Milan I said he should sign him. He wanted to know my ideas for new players and I said get Drogba, another central defender and Steven Gerrard.

"It was my idea to sign Robben and I met him in Eindhoven. I'd watched a lot of videos of him and was very impressed. I'm not surprised by his success and when I met him I was sure straight away. I told him he could play on the left, on the right and he could swap with Damien Duff. I knew very well they could play together. They are both very quick, can score goals and can pass the ball.

"Robben can grow to become the best player in the world but he's young and I don't want to put too much pressure on him.

"He asked my ideas about football and I told him I wanted him to be the key to open the door. He has everything, like Duff. When he signed I thought fantastic, 'I have two Damien Duffs!' My mother was very happy!"

If her son describes a Chelsea win on Sunday then Renata Ranieri, watching at home in Rome, will be even happier.

MORE ABOUT

Chelsea F.c.

Claudio Ranieri

Jose Mourinho

UEFA Champions League

We're about to enter the Chelsea era

Read More