Claudio Ranieri has blasted his six Chelsea stars who refused to travel to Israel by declaring he feels as safe in Tel-Aviv as he does in London.
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Chelsea will now be forced to field a considerably weaker side for the tricky UEFA Cup second-round, first-leg encounter with Hapoel Tel-Aviv, although Ranieri made light of the safety issues in Israel, insisting his side have nothing to fear either on or off the field.
"I am as sure about being in Tel-Aviv as I am in London," the Italian said in a tongue-in-cheek blast.
"I lived for four years in Sicily, for three years in Valencia and I am now living in London. In Sicily there is the Mafia, in Spain there is the terrorist group ETA and in London there have been attacks by the IRA.
"I do not feel in any more or less danger about being in Israel - I am only focused on the game.
"If UEFA decides it is important for us to go, then we are going. Sometimes sport is good for peace."
Ken Bates, in a further blast at the club's stay-away stars, added that Chelsea face a more intimidating atmosphere at Leeds' Elland Road ground, in Sunday's Premiership encounter, than they do in Israel.
