Former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri has tipped his former side to win their first Champions League crown despite their woes this season and believes their multi-million pound strike force’s form will improve.
The former Stamford Bridge favourite has recently resigned as AS Roma chief and was back in west London to watch Chelsea play against Manchester United on Tuesday night, and has been invited by fellow Italian Carlo Ancelotti to visit the Cobham training ground today.
Ranieri told TuttoSport:
“I am not surprised that Chelsea has struggled in the Premier League this season. Football is not a science as team can do well as well as play poor.
“But I think that this Chelsea side can win the Champions League because it is a marvellous squad with fantastic players.”
He added:
“Maybe Torres is not at 100 per cent and the same goes for Drogba, but I think they can do better.”
I always wonder whether or not Claudio had what it took to win the title. I think he should have been given another season. Of course in the end he had to make way for the special one. Finished runner up in the prem and CL semi’s before getting the boot. All the top managers rotate now just as he did and earned the name “tinker man”. Singed the likes of Lampard and gave JT his debut and laid down the foundations for Jose. I used to love him on motd before he learned the lingo and had the Dennis Wise look alike as an interpreter. Selling Wisey was a low point in his reign.