Problems test Ranieri's brain power

Adrian Curtis13 April 2012
Everton 0 Chelsea 0

Claudio Ranieri's attempt to explain his side's inability to break down an injury-hit Everton degenerated into a spluttering post-match analysis of Dutchman Boudewijn Zenden's state of fitness.

Ranieri's exasperation at not being able to find the right words appeared to mirror Chelsea's lack of cohesion on the pitch. In a game lifted by isolated moments of genius from Gianfranco Zola, they otherwise demonstrated a lack of guile, urgency and belief.

Victory would have pushed Chelsea into the top three in the Premiership but that would have only flattered to deceive.

After failing to ignite a spark in the first half, Chelsea took off Slavisa Jokanovic and Sam Dalla Bona, introduced Zenden and Mario Stanic and reverted to the more reliable 4-4-2 lineup. It improved matters, but only to a degree.

Ranieri has not yet discovered how to get the best out of World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit and £11million Frank Lampard. The midfield pair huffed and puffed for 90 minutes but neither could stamp his authority on the game.

It is a challenge that needs to exercise the coach's grey cells sooner rather than later or he may face the serious consequences of another season of underachievement.

Despite the interval changes, chances remained thin on the ground. A 25-yard free-kick from Zola was pushed on to the bar by Steve Simonsen four minutes from time and a volley from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flew over the top but that was as close as Chelsea got to breaking the deadlock.

Everton offered little but Mark Bosnich was forced to make two fine first-half saves to deny Tomasz Radzinski.

Unfortunately for the Australian goalkeeper, he had to be substituted 10 minutes before the end after jarring his thigh while attempting to take a goal-kick. His replacement, Carlo Cudicini, then made a fine stop to deny Duncan Ferguson as Everton at last took the initiative.

Bosnich was due to have a scan on his damaged thigh today but Ranieri will have more pressing thoughts on his mind. He will not need reminding that any team with top-three aspirations has to deal ruthlessly with those as weak as Everton.

The Chelsea coach said: "In the first-half, Everton had two big chances to score, but we also had two big chances with Zola in the second half. I think at the end the draw was right. We played well once we changed the system to 4-4-2."

Ranieri is clearly hoping that Zenden can soon reach the same level of fitness as the rest of his side. His injection of pace lifted Chelsea but after missing out on the same pre-season regime as his team-mates, the winger is still not fully fit.

Ranieri added: "I prefer to use him in the second half at the moment. I think he is very important for us but he is not at the same fitness level as the rest of my team."

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