Claudio Ranieri looked cheerful as he set off for his native Rome yesterday. With Chelsea second in the Premiership and top of their Champions League group, the head coach is finding it easy to smile. Yet he made it clear ahead of this evening's game against Lazio that he is not yet satisfied.
Ranieri said Chelsea could and must improve to achieve the level he is striving for. Complacency is unlikely to affect players constantly battling for their places but if anyone at Stamford Bridge felt they were on easy street after four consecutive wins, Ranieri put them right.
Tonight will offer a clearer picture of how Chelsea measure up than have recent wins against Manchester City, Notts County and Everton. It is probably the toughest test the squad have faced, especially as Lazio need to avenge their defeat at Stamford Bridge. Ranieri's insistence that his side are "ready" was followed by a reminder of his expectations.
"This team could improve and must improve," he said. "I'm pleased because our start is good but we could get better. Now is the time to improve." He called on his players to be "more clinical". Eight of Chelsea's 10 wins in the Premiership and group stage of the Champions League have come by a single goal.
There have been signs that the team is settling, not least during the secondhalf comeback against Lazio. Yet their four successive wins have not been achieved with the consistency which Ranieri wants.
Ranieri, a fan of Roma, whom he played for, gave Hernan Crespo a 60% chance of recovering from a groin problem but will be without Marcel Desailly. Valencia said yesterday that Chelsea had shown "interest" in the centreback Roberto Ayala, who could be available for £8m.
Lazio (possible, 4-4-2): Sereni; Negro, Couto, Mihajlovic, Zauri; Conceicao, Albertini, Stankovic, López; Corradi, Inzaghi.
Chelsea (possible, 4-4-1-1): Cudicini; Johnson, Terry, Gallas, Bridge; Geremi, Lampard, Makelele, Duff; Verón; Mutu.
TV: ITV2, kick-off 7.45pm
