Ranieri has respect for cup rivals
LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri says his side's fourth round tie against minnows Scarborough is what makes the English FA Cup so special.
"(The) FA Cup is such a great competition, there is a lovely atmosphere," Ranieri told a news conference on Friday. "The spirit is amazing, I like this emotion."
The match, which pits the Premier League aristocrats against the minor league side from four divisions below, has created worldwide interest.
Ranieri says this is due to the enduring appeal of the competition adding: "Look at the Italian Cup: Juventus against Perugia (on Wednesday) when only a few people (2,903) attended the game."
He promised his multi-million pound side would respect their opponents who hope to cause one of the biggest shocks in the history of the competition.
"My strength is my memory, I know where I come from," Ranieri said, referring to his past experience in Italy when he began his coaching career at Vigor Lamazia in Calabria.
"We have to be careful because every year there are surprises in the FA Cup," he said.
"It is a very good draw for us. For them it's a big event. It is their best opposition of the year."
