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Chelsea manager claims Arsenal suffering from self doubt
London, Apr 09: Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri put more pressure on title rival Arsenal yesterday, saying the Gunners are showing signs of self doubt.
London, Apr 09: Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri put more pressure on title rival Arsenal yesterday, saying the Gunners are showing signs of self doubt.
Ranieri's blues knocked Arsenal out of the Champions League with a 2-1 victory at Highbury on Tuesday, three days after the Gunners lost 1-0 to Manchester United in the FA Cup semifinal.
Chelsea also cut Arsenal's Premier League advantage to four points on Saturday. Although the Gunners have a game in hand, Arsene Wenger's men have two tough games in three days against fourth-place Liverpool and fifth-place Newcastle.
"Before Arsenal's game against Manchester United, they were very strong mentally," Ranieri said. "But after that game, there were maybe a few doubts that crept in and now there are maybe even more doubts.
"Having seen the game at Highbury again on video, the Chelsea players were relaxed and the Arsenal players, although not nervous, seemed maybe too focused."
Ranieri, whose team hosts Middlesbrough on Saturday, has become a hero with the Chelsea fans even though his job at Stamford Bridge is under threat. Owner Roman Abramovich reportedly wants a bigger name in the job.
Although he says he behaved "like a madman" after the final whistle at Highbury on Tuesday, Ranieri is refusing to get carried away with Chelsea's Champions League run.
The blues, who have never been this far in Europe's most prestigious competition, meet Monaco for a place in the final after the French club overturned a 4-2 first leg deficit to upset nine-time winner Real Madrid.
Bureau Report
Chelsea also cut Arsenal's Premier League advantage to four points on Saturday. Although the Gunners have a game in hand, Arsene Wenger's men have two tough games in three days against fourth-place Liverpool and fifth-place Newcastle.
"Before Arsenal's game against Manchester United, they were very strong mentally," Ranieri said. "But after that game, there were maybe a few doubts that crept in and now there are maybe even more doubts.
"Having seen the game at Highbury again on video, the Chelsea players were relaxed and the Arsenal players, although not nervous, seemed maybe too focused."
Ranieri, whose team hosts Middlesbrough on Saturday, has become a hero with the Chelsea fans even though his job at Stamford Bridge is under threat. Owner Roman Abramovich reportedly wants a bigger name in the job.
Although he says he behaved "like a madman" after the final whistle at Highbury on Tuesday, Ranieri is refusing to get carried away with Chelsea's Champions League run.
The blues, who have never been this far in Europe's most prestigious competition, meet Monaco for a place in the final after the French club overturned a 4-2 first leg deficit to upset nine-time winner Real Madrid.
Bureau Report