Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WE MUST STOP CITY’S SIXY FOOTBALL!
Watford’s games against City are tennis scores says Ranieri, and it must end
CLAUDIO RANIERI wants Watford to put in a faultless performance against Manchester City – or at least make sure they are not smashed six-love again.
City have thrashed the Hornets 6-0 twice in the past four seasons, including the 2019 FA Cup final.
Two years ago it ended 8-0 to City and Pep Guardiola’s superstars have also inflicted 4-0 and 5-0 hammerings since 2017.
Hornets boss Ranieri began his spell at Vicarage Road with a 5-0 thumping at the hands of Liverpool.
But Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Chelsea was a different story as the Premier League leaders were lucky to get even a point.
The Italian is hopeful of a repeat display when City come to town today, even though Watford’s record against City came as a shock. “Oh my God, this is not football, these are tennis scores!” said Ranieri (below).
“Sometimes you have to break the barrier and now we are ready to fight. We can say if you win, well done to the players who won the match.
“On Wednesday Chelsea won the match, well done to them.
“I know very well it will be the same as Chelsea.
We were, and are, the underdog team. Everybody is thinking
Watford will lose against City.
“OK, we lost. Now we have to play. And play and play.”
The Hornets have been hit hard by injuries, with left-back Adam Masina crocked against Chelsea.
Star forward Ismaila Sarr is out with a knee injury and may not now return until February, Ranieri said.
But never mind the tennis, Watford have got Dennis – Emmanuel Dennis. The Nigeria wideman has scored four times in the last five games under Ranieri after netting just twice under previous boss Xisco Munoz.
Dennis caught Ranieri’s eye by scoring twice for Bruges in a 2-2 Champions League draw at Real Madrid in 2019.
Ranieri said: “Whoever scores two goals in the Bernabeu is not a normal man.
“He has speed, he is intelligent and I like how he plays. He still has to improve because he is young but he is a very good player.”