LONDON - FEBRUARY 24: Claudio Ranieri manager of Juventus laughs during a Press Conference at Stamford Bridge on February 24, 2009 in London, England. Chelsea plays Juventus in the first Knockout round, first leg match of the Champions League on February 25, 2009 at Stamford Bridge in London, England. (Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Claudio Ranieri BLACKBURN, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Blackburn Rovers and Arsenal at Ewood Park on August 28, 2010 in Blackburn, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Arsene Wenger
Don't try to pull a fast one on Claudio Ranieri.
Ahead of Sunday's huge match between Ranieri's table-topping Leicester City and third-place Arsenal, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has sounded quite confident of his team's chances, citing his impeccable head-to-head record against the Italian manager.
A little too confident, it turned out.
While speaking to the press earlier this week, Wenger praised Leicester but couldn't help adding this little nugget on Ranieri: "He has never beaten me and I hope it will continue!"
Wrong!
In fact, though Wenger indeed has never lost to Ranieri in eight meetings in the Premier League, the Foxes coach actually knocked Arsenal out of the Champions League quarterfinals while in charge of Chelsea back in 2004 -- that's right, the season of the "Invincibles."
Ranieri took great pleasure in correcting Wenger during his press conference on the eve of the big game, and pledged to remind his counterpart on the sideline as well:
That's right, Arsene. Get your facts straight! (OK, to be fair, we forgot about Wayne Bridge, as well ...)
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