Ranieri’s future in doubt as players raise questions

CLAUDIO RANIERI is under growing pressure to turn Watford’s season around amid doubts over his suitability as head coach. Sportsmail has learned there is emerging disquiet from inside the firstteam camp over the Italian’s methods just three months into his tenure following his appointment in October. Watford have lost eight of the 10 matches Ranieri has been in charge — a dismal return that leaves the club just two points clear of the relegation zone. In usual circumstances, a Watford boss would be under severe threat from the sack following such a poor sequence of results given the Pozzo family’s penchant for dismissing managers. However, there is a feeling Ranieri could be afforded more time than usual by the club’s hierarchy because of his long-standing friendship with members of the Pozzo family and his reputation. Nevertheless, there is a sense at the club’s training HQ that the board cannot tolerate the poor results much longer with the glaring risk of relegation. Ranieri headed into today’s clash against Tottenham boosted by the availability of striker Emmanuel Dennis, who will not be going to the Africa Cup of Nations. Nigeria’s Football Federation had accused Watford of ‘baring fangs’ to push for the player’s exclusion ahead of his removal from the squad. Key attacker Ismaila Sarr has been included in the Senegal squad but his participation in the tournament is in doubt due to a knee injury, while William Troost-Ekong will meet up with Nigeria. Ranieri (right) insisted Watford had not disrespected the Africa Cup of Nations after it was confirmed Dennis would not be travelling to the tournament. He said: ‘We were ready to give them players and the two boards spoke. Of course he wanted to go to play but also he wanted to help Watford. He was ready to go and now he is ready to stay.’ Despite the prospect of losing players to international duty, Watford are not expected to go heavily into this month’s transfer window, with the club set to largely rely on the loan market. Defeat by Spurs could see Watford fall into the bottom three by tomorrow night, with sources claiming Ranieri’s future will come under more scrutiny if they slump into the relegation zone. Ranieri famously led Leicester to a historic Premier League title in 2016 but he was sacked after just 106 days in charge of Fulham in 2019, with the west London club ultimately relegated. And there were similar doubts from Fulham players during his short reign about whether he had the tools to lead a team away from relegation trouble.