http://www.chelseafc.com/article.asp?id=182049
Claudio pleased with performance
Monday, Jan 19, 2004
Chelsea have now dropped eight points at home since beating Manchester
United on November 20th to go top of the Premiership, but manager Claudio
Ranieri was more upbeat about his team’s 0-0 draw with Birmingham than with
other recent performances.
“We tried to do everything, their goalkeeper was Man of the Match, he
made great saves. Birmingham is one of the best teams to press for a point.
They press hard everywhere and it’s difficult to build from deep positions.
“In the second-half it was a little better and we found some great
chances to score a goal, but the luck is not with us.”
The bad luck included Joe Cole hitting a post, William Gallas having a
shot cleared off the line, and strong shouts for a penalty turned down not
only when William Gallas went sprawling but, according to the players, when
Eidur Gudjohnsen shot wide while being pushed in the back.
The better second-half coincided with the half-time appearance of
substitute Damien Duff.
“I think I risked too much in playing Damien Duff from the beginning of
the second-half,” admitted Claudio, “but there weren’t any problems so it
was good training for him to play 45 minutes. Fortunately nothing went wrong.
“Duff runs in another way because of the shoulder. When you run in
another way your muscles can suffer.”
Chelsea went into the weekend five points behind leaders Manchester
United and have come out of it six points behind leaders Arsenal. Claudio
refused to get worked up about that.
“We want to stay, we want to fight, but there isn’t frustration if
Manchester and Arsenal are so far ahead. Our target is to try and continue
and build. If we can stay close we will try, but it’s not our target.
“It was a great chance to gain some ground, but I’m pleased with their
performance – but if you don’t score it’s difficult to win.
“The early experience has finished. In the beginning every player wanted
to impress the new fans, the new press, the new journalists, it is normal.
Now they want success as a team. Now we have a very good group.”
If Chelsea had fitness problems – no Terry, Petit, Veron, Crespo plus a
bsent on international duty Geremi and Babayaro – so did Birmingham, and
their squad is much smaller. They were without Upson, Clapham, Dunn and
returning Lazarides could only make the bench, plus suspended Dugarry, loaned
Forssell and on international duty Cisse. such was the slimness of their
squad that they promoted current youth team player Barrowman to the
substitutes’ bench.
But manager Steve Bruce stated: “I don’t think that they underestimated
us. We took the game to them in the first-half, we were on the ropes a bit in
the second, but I thought that we deserved a point.
“They had a couple of opportunities but the keeper produced a good save
and we defended manfully. The 16 players I’ve got today did themselves
proud.”
Questioned on the penalty incident involving William Gallas, Bruce said:
“It was a tangle of legs and I think it would have been a bit harsh.”
On the performance of his team he singled out Stern John as being
excellent. “He led the line well and he was the line at times.
“This time last year our squad couldn’t cope but this year, today shows
we can.”
Wayne Bridge was voted Chelsea Man of the Match.
Steev Burgess
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