Ranieri rails against ‘stupid’ title talk

CLAUDIO RANIERI insisted only a “stupid man” would expect Chelsea to win the Premiership title this season.

Ranieri is determined to reduce the level of expectation weighing down his young side despite the seven high-profile arrivals at Stamford Bridge in a £75million (€106m) spending spree following the takeover of Roman Abramovich. He insists Chelsea should not be bracketed alongside Manchester United, Arsenal or even tomorrow’s opening Premiership opponents Liverpool.

“Only a stupid man would think we can win the title this season,” Ranieri said. “An intelligent man would know there are three big teams, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, who are settled and have been around for years. It’s impossible to compare us with them. We have only just started building and there is a big difference between them and us.”