It's good to talk, says Ranieri
Claudio Ranieri’s future as Chelsea manager looks considerably brighter after the Italian held a “very good meeting” with the club’s officials.
Ranieri has spent much of the season with a cloud hanging over his future, and speculation that he was to be sacked in the summer intensified following Peter Kenyon’s appointment as chief executive.
But following Chelsea’s victory over Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-final last week, and their continued good form in the Barclaycard Premiership where they currently lie second behind the Gunners, Ranieri has now revealed he is in talks to remain at Stamford Bridge, where he has a rolling contract to 2007.
Chelsea have been constantly linked with England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, Roma’s Fabian Capello and Bayern Munich chief Ottmar Hitzfeld.
Ranieri himself has reportedly attracted the attention of Roma as well as Spanish giants Real Madrid, but the Italian hopes he will now stay at the helm in west London.
He said: “The club and I are talking. We have had a very good meeting and the relationship between us is good. We have spoken about a lot of things and soon everything will be known.
“I am not interested in managing any other clubs – I want to continue here. I have put all myself in this and now it’s good, why should I change?”
Chelsea take on Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge tomorrow having won their last five Premiership games.
And Ranieri, who has won only the Italian Cup with Fiorentina and Spanish Cup with Valencia in a managerial career spanning 16 years, has vowed that Chelsea will not give up the chase.
He added: “The focus is on the Premiership because the Champions League is a gamble. The league is not a gamble.
“The league is where you prove your character, your ability, everything during one season. I’m very focussed on this.
“This is my first title race as a manager and it is an important period for my career. I have never been in this position before.
“It is an exciting period for me now and it is a test for how I have managed everything. It is not easy being in charge of 22 champions.
“Easter is very important for us. I am focussed on what we are doing and don’t even look at Arsenal’s results.
“I have told the players to forget about the win against Arsenal. We must focus the mind and work harder than we have before.”
Ranieri has been boosted by the return of midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron after he finally recovered from the back injury which sidelined him last November.
The Argentinian international has made just 11 Premiership appearances since he joined the club for £15million from Manchester United, but is expected to take his place on the subs’ bench against Middlesbrough.
Ranieri said: “He has looked sharp in training and now he is better. He wants to make a contribution in the last few matches.”
