Friday 1 February 2019 23:35, UK
Claudio Ranieri believes the surprise signing of Ryan Babel is already proving Fulham's shrewdest move of the transfer window.
The forward arrived from Besiktas to further strengthen their already strong attacking options when it was a defender, with the way they continue to leak goals, that they were expected to prioritise in January.
Babel excelled on his debut in the 2-1 defeat to Tottenham and was again influential against Brighton in Tuesday's crucial 4-2 win and Ranieri is impressed with how the former Liverpool player has fitted into the squad.
Ranieri said: "Babel's a leader. When you see him in the training session; he was speaking to a player who was 18 years old and saying 'You have to do this, you have to do this'.
"It's fantastic. That means he is involved in this project. It's not only for himself. He came here and has tried to give everybody his experience. That is important.
"I didn't know he would come with this spirit and I'm very, very surprised but also very happy.
"I want a positive man. Leaders, because we need leaders. If you are a leader, you think about everything.
"You don't think only for yourself. I knew him a long time ago. When we asked if he wanted to come, he said, 'Yes! I want!' Oh, fantastic! I want a player who wants to come."
Fulham visit Crystal Palace on Saturday, when they will be hoping to secure another victory in their battle to avoid relegation straight back to the Sky Bet Championship.
The trip to Selhurst Palace is followed by the visit of Manchester United to Craven Cottage, with away trips to West Ham, Southampton and the west London derby with Chelsea then coming up.
Even with that intimidating run of fixtures, Ranieri believes his team are finally prepared, having been further strengthened by the arrivals of the versatile Havard Nordtveit and winger Lazar Markovic and now playing in the way he wants them to.
"I am confident because every day I see the team is more compact, with the mentality," he added.
"What happened against Brighton was something I was waiting for. At that time, all the team was compact.
"Before, when we conceded a goal, we wanted to do something not as a team, but as individuals. They ran more without doing anything.
"Against Brighton, we played one or two touches. All the players tried to help team-mates and played very easy, as I want.
"We went very early on the flank to make crosses or when the opponent was put out; we went between the lines. All [were] together and understood.
"If we carry on in this way, we are stronger and can get a lot of confidence."
