WATFORD’s Claudio Ranieri reveals that he went to Stamford Bridge to watch Saints and “saw a good, well organised team. They played so well.”

The 70-year-old manager travelled to Chelsea on Tuesday night to catch a glimpse of his opponents for the weekend, as Saints played out a 1-1 draw in the EFL Cup last 16.

Ralph Hasenhuttl named nine changes to his Saints side that played in the Premier League at the weekend, as well as a change in team shape.

Saints put in an impressive performance throughout against the European champions, but the hosts were not without chances to win themselves.

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But Ranieri has given his verdict on what he saw, although it’s likely there will be at least half-a-dozen changes again at Vicarage Road.

Daily Echo: Claudio Ranieri's Watford beat Everton 5-2 at Goodison Park last weekend (Pic: PA)Claudio Ranieri's Watford beat Everton 5-2 at Goodison Park last weekend (Pic: PA)

Speaking ahead of the match, he said: “I have been to watch Chelsea against Southampton in the Carabao Cup and I saw a good, well organised team.

“They made a lot of changes, but played so well and I think it will be a dangerous, dangerous match on Saturday.

“(Hasenhuttl’s) doing a very, very good job, his team play as a squad, they move all together and they know what they have to do, not only the first XI, also the team that played against Chelsea, it was unbelievable.

“Well done.”

Daily Echo: Saints took Premier League-leaders Chelsea to a penalty shootout in the EFL Cup on Tuesday (Pic: PA)Saints took Premier League-leaders Chelsea to a penalty shootout in the EFL Cup on Tuesday (Pic: PA)

And having watched the weekend’s visitors play, Ranieri has identified how his side will have to operate in order to counter Hasenhuttl’s.

“It’s important to move the ball quickly now everybody wants to press you,” he continued.

“If you play slowly the pressing is much better, but if you play quickly to press is a little more difficult.

“We played very well against Everton, now I want to see the next match against Southampton. They are a very good team and we must be intelligent to play against them.”