http://msn.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,46-1130165,00.html
RANIERI WANTS PLAYERS TO FOCUS
Friday 2nd April 2004
Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri has admitted he was not worried about all
the speculation over his future last week and hopes his players have not
been affected.
Speculation was intensified last weekend when England coach Sven Goran
Eriksson was spotted meeting Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon, but those
rumours were shot down when Eriksson signed a new deal.
Chelsea's season could be decided in the next four days with a
Premiership clash with Tottenham and the second leg of their UEFA Champions
League tie with Arsenal and Ranieri wants his team to focus on the tasks
ahead.
"Maybe the stories about Eriksson are finished now and people will talk
about another manager," said Ranieri.
"I wasn't preoccupied by the speculation before. Speculation isn't
important and would only be an excuse for my players. I don't want an excuse
- I want to win.
"This is the crunch now. It's the moment like they have in Spain when
the toreador enters the bullfighting arena.
"I spoke to my players this morning and said `We've got eight matches to
go and 10 months ago we wanted to be in this position'.
"Everyone must show their hearts now and we must try to do our best.
"We must try to achieve something. We're in a big race and we want to
try to do well.
"We've got another London derby against Tottenham. They're past their
bad moments and it will be a hard game."
Ranieri also revealed he had spoken to Eriksson last Friday, just 24
hours prior to his meeting with Kenyon and he insists he has no problem with
the Swede.
"I spoke with him and said I wanted him to rest Wayne Bridge and Frank
Lampard for England's game against Sweden," added Ranieri.
"I have a good relationship with Eriksson. English people might think
things are strange but for me, as an Italian manager, nothing is strange in
football.
"This is the football world and I'm very focussed and try to do my best."
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