Gladiator!
Speaking at the Official Uefa press conference last night, Claudio said "Could it (two legs) help us, I don’t know? It’s different. It’s a different competition, everything is different. We play the quarter-final of the Champions League; it’s a good match.
"Of course two legs I think will be very, very interesting. Arsenal have beaten us three times this season, they are playing very, very well and they deserve to stay at the top in the Premiership. They are the top also if you compare the English League, the Spanish League, the Italian League, the German League. Also Chelsea if you compare with the other leagues is at the top.
"That means that Chelsea are playing and fighting well but in front of us there is a big, big team. I think at this moment in Europe, Milan and Arsenal are the best because they are in great condition, have great champions and that is the truth. But we are Chelsea. I think my players can do everything. There are two legs, the first at home and in the Champions League we have a very good record.
"The players are my blood, my strength, that is important. Their support is fantastic but I said to them it is not important Claudio Ranieri, it is important Chelsea. I am focussed on Chelsea and also they must be focussed on Chelsea. That is the most important thing.
"We are building a great building, that is important for us. I said at the beginning now it is important to build the foundation and then go. Of course if we go through the round it is not only foundation it is something more. But I am a man who works with his feet on the ground and I continue to think we must build, we must build, we must build. This is a bonus for us.
"I have also very great Champions - young, experienced and this game they will put also their soul. I hope the players show this strong spirit. If we achieve the second place, if we achieve the semi-final it is because my players have a very strong and fantastic character and spirit.
"I am like my boy, I am a gladiator, I like this."
Like Claudio, John Terry is also a gladiator! With Marcel Desailly likely to retain his place in side, JT won't be captain.... but that won't stop him leading from example as usual! He also feels this season is going well- and he also manages to throw in some words of support for the gaffer.
JT said: "I think we have to look at it in a positive way, we’ve built from last season and we’ve come on leaps and bounds from last year. Each year we want to get better as a team and as a club so we look at it in a positive way. Fair play to Arsenal, they’ve been playing brilliantly all season and you have to take your hat off to them for doing so.
"To go this far without being beaten it takes a very good side to do that and we’ve said before they’ve got great players and a good team spirit so you have to say fair play to them.
"It’s important for us to keep a clean sheet tomorrow at home, we’ve said that’s vital and that will be something that we’ll be looking to do. Hopefully we can do that and with the fans behind us at the Bridge it’s going to be a good night for everyone involved in football.
"I think we’ve dealt with the speculation well all season. Right from the word go there has been a lot of rubbish in the papers about this that and the other and it’s been no different.
"There has been a lot more recently but throughout the season every single player downstairs has come out and supported the manager and we are 100 per cent behind him and he knows that the players are supporting him.
"A lot of players owe him a lot. Me personally, he gave me my chance and we’ll do everything we can to win the game.
"It is just rubbish that’s being reported, the manager has done a fantastic job this year, he’s brought in some fantastic players, built a fantastic team spirit amongst the lads. You can see how much we enjoy training with him and everything has been brilliant. As I say we’re 100 per cent behind him and that’s all I can say."
If only Peter Kenyon would come out and say the same thing...