Claudio defends Dutch fancy-dress shindig

CLAUDIO RANIERI has defended his decision to let his Fulham flops fly to Amsterdam for a Christmas fancy-dress party.

The Cottagers are bottom of the league and have won only once in four games since Ranieri took over.

But the Italian had no problem allowing his players to jet off for a boozy knees-up just hours after their 4-1 defeat at Manchester United on Saturday.

Ranieri said: “I trust the players. I am free in this case. If they want to make a Christmas party they can do it.

“For me it’s important that they work hard in the training session and in the match. For me this is more important than the Christmas party.

“You can produce a result or not produce a result whether you have a Christmas party or not. It’s important to work hard.

“My players worked hard in Manchester. We ran a lot. Maybe it was the one match where we ran the most kilometres.

“It’s not that a Christmas party makes something better or worse. That’s it. I trust in my players.”

Ranieri let his Leicester squad fly to Copenhagen for a Christmas fancy-dress bash in 2015 while they were on their way to stunning English football by winning the Premier League.

But Fulham are in a very different position having won just one of their last 13 matches, and badly need a result at home to West Ham today. Ranieri, who has been in charge for four weeks, had blasted them for playing like “lambs” in the first half of their Old Trafford thumping. But yesterday he said: “I hope they play like lions now.

“The first month is positive. We wanted a little more but I’m satisfied with the players. They needed time to understand everything.

“Now it’s important in this group of matches, we get points. I’m very confident.”

Ranieri called on his men to keep their heads in what promises to be a lively derby atmosphere because the referee at Craven Cottage will be Mike Dean (left), who has already dished out five red cards this season. “It’s a London derby,” said Ranieri. “It’s important we stay calm. It’s normal to be aggressive in games like this. But, be calm.”

It will also be a meeting of the Premier League’s oldest managers with Ranieri 67 and Manuel Pellegrini 65, although both believe they can go on for another 10 years.

Ranieri said: “It’s important to be open, whether you’re old or young. Some young managers arrive and stay at the top for years. Others disappear.

“If you do your job well you have an opportunity to continue, whether you’re old or young.

“It’s important to have passion. When I win I‘m 10 years younger. When I lose, I age 20 years.”