Chelsea/Newcastle Title Race - Ranieri

By Matthew Jones
July 23 2003

Chelsea boss, Claudio Ranieri believes that his side can win the Premiership League, but also believes that Sir Bobby's Newcastle United side can challenge them all the way and cause major problems in both the Premiership, and the Champions League. Chelsea boss, Claudio Ranieri is tipping Newcastle United to challenge his Chelsea side all the way in the race for the Premiership title this season.

Ranieri has already brought in some new players, while Sir Bobby Robson is well aware of the fact that the only new face at St James' Park, is Lee Bowyer.

The Blues boss is still maintaining that The Magpies' will be major players in the Premiership and the Champions League in the coming campaign.

He said: "They [Newcastle] are one of the teams we need to beat if we are to win anything.

"I have talked about our owner's desire to take Chelsea to the same level as Manchester United, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Juventus - but Newcastle are in that bracket.

"They finished above us in the Premiership last season and they have a great team and a fantastic manager [Sir Bobby Robson].

"Perhaps I have been guilty of this myself, but people tend to forget about Newcastle as a major force in English football."

Bookmark or share this story with: