JUAN VERON begged Claudio Ranieri NOT to play him in the Champions League semi-final against
Monaco.
But Chelsea’s Tinkerman boss ignored his £15million star and is now set to pay the price of his amazing
gamble — by losing his job.
Ranieri told Veron at half-time to replace the ineffective Jesper Gronkjaer.
Argentine ace Veron said he was not fit to take part in such an important match after five months out injured
and replied: “No boss, I’m not ready yet.”
But Ranieri?shocked his troops by insisting Veron would play — in an unfamiliar role on the left side midfield.
And the out-of-touch Argie was totally off the pace as Chelsea slumped to a disastrous 3-1 defeat which has
sealed Ranieri’s fate.
It was the first in a series of incredible tactical blunders which left the Blues stars stunned and bewildered.
Ranieri himself confessed he was to blame when his players “lost the plot” after he sent on striker Jimmy Floyd
Hasselbaink for defender Mario Melchiot.
Chelsea simply fell apart as the home side cut loose in the final 15 minutes — and angry players were left
without a clue about who was supposed to be playing where.
One furious star demanded: “What the f*** was that all about?” in an otherwise-silent dressing room after
the match.
Ranieri did not respond and stood with his head bowed.
Now his blunders have left even his staunchest supporters in the squad questioning whether he is still the
right man for the job.
The Tinkerman had accused Stamford Bridge owner Roman Abramovich of “knowing nothing about football”
ahead of Tuesday’s first-leg showdown.
The Russian was certainly bemused by Ranieri’s second-half tactics. Veron was on the left, Hernan Crespo on
the right and Scott Parker at right-back.
Veron, 29, had not completed a full game since suffering a serious back injury in November.
He managed 45 minutes in the 0-0 draw with Middlesbrough 12 days ago but then pulled a thigh muscle before
Easter Monday’s clash at Aston Villa.
Ranieri even admitted in the run-up to Tuesday’s game: “Veron’s an amazing player but I need him to be 100
per cent fit.”