Ranieri ready for Cagliari: “We must be wary”

Claudio Ranieri has warned Sampdoria not to lower their guard as they prepare to host Cagliari on Sunday.

Doria began the weekend ten points clear of their opponents sitting comfortably in mid-table, but the boss warned anything can happen going into the final third of the season.

“We have to stay alert because it’s a strange season,” Ranieri said ahead of the Week 26 fixture. “There are teams who are up to their necks in it – as we were last season – who could climb back up. We must do everything we can to keep teams like Cagliari at a safe distance beneath us.

“We’ll see what we can aim for after this match but it’s going to be a difficult, hard-fought encounter. They’ve changed coach and have won two on the bounce, away to Crotone and against Bologna. They’ll be re-energised and will want to make it nine points in a week but we’re ready for them.

“The players are fine, thank goodness. It looked like we might have a Covid problem but it turns out it was just flu. We’re getting our players back and some of them will be available for the game.”