Ranieri: “I Want My Players To Be Positive, Confident And Fight Together”

By: Watford FC Staff

Head Coach Claudio Ranieri believes that although Watford will be underdogs heading into the Chelsea match on Wednesday evening (December 1), his side have shown enough quality in their recent performances to suggest they can challenge anyone in the Premier League.

The Italian was speaking to the press on Tuesday afternoon in preparation for the game against the Blues at Vicarage Road, and revealed he is looking forward to more consistent results to match positive displays over recent weeks.

He said: “The performances are very close because against Arsenal, Manchester United and Leicester City there was a very good consistency, but the results haven’t always been. Only in this way do we want to continue to play because we want to improve. I want to have consistency and I’m confident because the players are following me 100 per cent and we try to help each other to make a very good squad.

“It’s important to have consistency and also to have good results. Then the players take confidence. I have been giving them confidence because for me it’s important they fight and never give up in every situation. I try to create the chances, sometimes you can score the chances and sometimes not, but it’s important that they continue in this way. I believe this is the right way for us to be safe at the end of the season.

“As an Italian manager I don’t want to concede goals I want only to score. We have to work hard and I know the only medicine - work and only work. I’m working and now I can say that slowly they are starting to understand me much better than the first training session.”

On the absentees from his squad, Ranieri explained that although the situation isn’t perfect, he is looking forward to seeing different players stake a claim for first-team positions and believes his squad has the strength in depth to compete.

“It is very hard but I have good players,” Ranieri said.

“I’m confident but of course if I had all my players it would be better. The club gave me a very good group of players and now players who play less have the moment to show how they want to play in the Premier League. They have to show what they can do in the Premier League, but I’m very confident.

“I don’t like to cry, I want to react. I want my players to be positive, confident and fight together. They know if they want to play, they have to react in a certain way. There are very good players here with skill, quality and good intelligence tactically, but of course I am improving them to be very focused in their movement, but I’m confident.”

One of the players who could feature against Chelsea is Joāo Pedro. The Brazilian was brought onto the pitch in the 4-1 win over Manchester United, going on to notch his first Premier League goal of the season, and Ranieri believes the forward has a lot of potential.

“He is a fantastic player, I believe in him,” Ranieri said.

“Only when he plays in the team can the manager understand his right position. I know he is like a diamond in the rough. We have to polish him.

“He must at this age stay very calm and listen when the manager speaks to everybody so he can take all the words. He is very professional, fast and very skilled. He has all the quality. His time will arrive. I believe in him.”

Wednesday’s fixture sees Ranieri faces another one of his former sides in Chelsea. The Hornets Head Coach is well aware of the challenges Thomas Tuchel’s team pose but is hopeful of causing the Blues their own problems in front of the Vicarage Road faithful.

“I think Frank Lampard did a very good job and Tuchel made it better from the beginning,” Ranieri said.

“He is a very practical man. He arrived and won the Champions League and now he is working to win the Premier League. In February they have the Club World Cup to win and I wish him and Chelsea all the best.

“We know we are the underdog, all the world knows this when you play Chelsea, one of the best teams in the world. Now we have to play them and at the end we shake their hands.”

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