"I've been working very hard for the last 15 years and, finally, I have this chance. It's a great opportunity. And I'm confident I'm not going to waste it. "The owner has been trying very hard to give me the best team possible. But it's important to combine the old team with the new players. For now we're building a big team. Give me some more months and then I can tell you about our goals."
"This is the biggest challenge of my career. It's the first time in my career that I can look for the greatest players and I can choose which ones I want. I am interested in everybody. We are looking in every nation. For now, for us it's important to listen to everybody and then we'll pick up what we need.
"We're asking clubs to see which players are available and then we will close the deals. I feel excited about the whole prospect. Our philosophy is to try to put together a squad of young, good players and some champions — the same plan as last season."
"I don't want to talk specifically but I can say that, apart from Bridge and Duff, we will still look for two or three others. I feel good about the choice of players we can buy but it's important to continue to build the squad.
Speaking of transfer targets, it would appear as though Juan Veron is still high on Claudio's list of targets. Agent Pini Zahavi, who has worked closely with Abramovich during the takeover, revealed: "Roman wants Veron very much — but the man who is insisting on having him is Ranieri. He wants to make him the King of Chelsea."
Ranieri is clearly not put off by Veron's nightmare stay at Old Trafford. But it take's the right kind of manager to get the most out of Veron- and I believe Claudio is that manager...