Ranieri keeps faith in the squad

CHELSEA boss Claudio Ranieri insisted he will not embark on a major New Year spending spree as he moved to reassure his existing squad of his faith in them.

Ranieri invested more than stg£100million last summer and Roman Abramovich’s vast fortune remains at his disposal for the right player when the transfer window opens.

Speculation has therefore been rife as to Chelsea’s next target, with reports indicating interest in the likes of Lucio, Michael Ballack, Roberto Ayala and Rivaldo, quite apart from David Beckham.

However, Ranieri has stressed there will be no major upheavals to his squad next month as he has been so impressed with the way that his existing players have gelled as a unit.

Ranieri declared: “I have a lot of champions. My players understand my philosophy and I believe in all of my players.

“It is important to be focused on my team. I have 21 players plus the goalkeepers and for me that is enough.”

He does not rule out any new arrivals at Stamford Bridge during the transfer window if he manages to unload one or two fringe figures, such as Mario Stanic.

However, he clearly does not wish to unsettle the team spirit which has carried Chelsea to the top of the table and into the Champions League knock-out stages on the back of seven consecutive clean sheets.