Chelsea ready to break monopoly on Premiership title

CLAUDIO RANIERI insists Chelsea are ready to break the monopoly held by Manchester United and Arsenal on the Barclaycard Premiership title.

Only once in the 11 years of the competition has the title ended up away from Old Trafford or Highbury, but Chelsea’s 1-0 win at Southampton kept them sandwiched between the big two at the top of the table.

Ranieri’s men face United at Stamford Bridge next weekend insisting there is no clear favourite in three-horse title race this year.

He said: “I think there isn’t a favourite. It’s the first time we can say that and I’m very curious to see what happens. It’s important for Chelsea fans and also for the league not to always be the same two. We are ready to fight with Arsenal and Manchester United.

Chelsea trail leaders Arsenal by a point after Mario Melchiot’s winner at St Mary’s, with United a point behind. But Ranieri was keen to play down the significance of United’s visit next weekend, preferring to concentrate on a midweek Champions League clash with Sparta Prague instead.

He said: “The next match in the league is against Manchester United and it’s a big, big match. We’re looking forward to it, but we must think about Sparta Prague first.”

While victory on the south coast was Chelsea’s seventh in succession since the defeat at Arsenal last month, Southampton are struggling with just one win in seven league games.

But all the talk at St Mary’s was about manager Gordon Strachan’s future. The only man not talking about the growing speculation linking him with Leeds was the Scot himself.

But defiant Saints chairman Rupert Lowe said: “There isn’t any situation as far as we are concerned.”`

“I guess the process of softening a manager up for a move is to suggest that all is not well in our camp but I can assure you that is not the case. There is nothing to it. Gordon and I have a great relationship. There is no reason for us to fall out. He’s a great companion and a great coach.”

Whatever Strachan’s future, the goals have dried up for his side, who were without England striker and top scorer James Beattie because of a calf injury.

Southampton have scored in only one of their last seven league games, and Kevin Phillips, Brett Ormerod, Leandre Griffit and Agustin Delgado looked toothless.

Strachan said: “It’s an individual problem. Collectively we try and get as many chances as we can but the chances we get have got to be better.”

But Strachan insists Southampton are still no more of a one-man show than some of the country’s top teams.

He said: “United didn’t rest Ruud van Nistelrooy, Thierry Henry seems to score most of Arsenal’s goals, and Alan Shearer’s been carrying Newcastle on his shoulders so teams have special players and Beattie is a special player for us.

“Because of their huge squad Chelsea are not like that and can rest players, but if you give me £110million to spend I will bring players in.”

Ranieri had the luxury of resting Hernan Crespo and Adrian Mutu after their recent internationals, but he singled out former Real Madrid midfielder Claude Makelele for safeguarding victory after a spirited Saints comeback.