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Chelsea`s poor record no deterrent for manager`s upbeat mood for Arsenal clash
London, Feb 15: Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri demands postivie thinking ahead of their Arsenal in the fifth of the English FA Cup.
London, Feb 15: Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri demands postivie thinking ahead of their Arsenal in the fifth of the English FA Cup.
Claudio Ranieri believes fate draw them against Arsenal in the fifth round ot the FA Cup on Sunday (January 15) in London. Chelsea are facing their rivals from North-London for the fourth season in sucession.
Ranieri's team have been beaten by Arsenal in the Cup every season, including the 2002 final, since he took charge at Stamford Bridge in September 2000. Chelsea's FA Cup record against the league leaders and Cup holders is also hardly inspiring. They last beat Arsenal in the FA Cup in 1947 and have never won a tie at Highbury. Sunday's fifth-round tie will be followed by a league match at Stamford Bridge on February 21.
Ranieri, in buoyant mood after league wins against Charlton and Portsmouth this week, agreed the two matches represented a make-or-break point in the season, but refused to contemplate losing.
"I am a positive man. Why should I think about losing," he said, adding he felt no extra pressure after months of speculation over his future since the arrival of billionaire owner Roman Abramovich last July.
"Arsenal are not unbeatable. Sooner or later they will lose," Ranieri said.
Chelsea are third in the league six points adrift of Arsenal and one behind Manchester United.
Ranieri conducted training on the smooth, newly laid Stamford Bridge turf on Friday instead of the weather-beaten pitches of their training ground to better prepare them for conditions at Highbury.
The Italian, whose side lost to Arsenal 2-1 in the league in October, said his players had improved, learned to play better together and grown in confidence in the last four months, citing wins over Lazio, Besiktas and Manchester United.
He said Arsenal, unbeaten in the league this season, were brimming with this sort of confidence and praised their French striker Thierry Henry as a fantastic player.
Ranieri said goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, who has missed the last two games with a groin strain, would have a late fitness test on Saturday (February 14).
Bureau Report
Claudio Ranieri believes fate draw them against Arsenal in the fifth round ot the FA Cup on Sunday (January 15) in London. Chelsea are facing their rivals from North-London for the fourth season in sucession.
Ranieri's team have been beaten by Arsenal in the Cup every season, including the 2002 final, since he took charge at Stamford Bridge in September 2000. Chelsea's FA Cup record against the league leaders and Cup holders is also hardly inspiring. They last beat Arsenal in the FA Cup in 1947 and have never won a tie at Highbury. Sunday's fifth-round tie will be followed by a league match at Stamford Bridge on February 21.
Ranieri, in buoyant mood after league wins against Charlton and Portsmouth this week, agreed the two matches represented a make-or-break point in the season, but refused to contemplate losing.
"I am a positive man. Why should I think about losing," he said, adding he felt no extra pressure after months of speculation over his future since the arrival of billionaire owner Roman Abramovich last July.
"Arsenal are not unbeatable. Sooner or later they will lose," Ranieri said.
Chelsea are third in the league six points adrift of Arsenal and one behind Manchester United.
Ranieri conducted training on the smooth, newly laid Stamford Bridge turf on Friday instead of the weather-beaten pitches of their training ground to better prepare them for conditions at Highbury.
The Italian, whose side lost to Arsenal 2-1 in the league in October, said his players had improved, learned to play better together and grown in confidence in the last four months, citing wins over Lazio, Besiktas and Manchester United.
He said Arsenal, unbeaten in the league this season, were brimming with this sort of confidence and praised their French striker Thierry Henry as a fantastic player.
Ranieri said goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, who has missed the last two games with a groin strain, would have a late fitness test on Saturday (February 14).
Bureau Report