I'm staying put: Ranieri

Claudio Ranieri has delivered a defiant message to those who believe Sven-Goran Eriksson will replace him at Stamford Bridge, vowing: “I am here to stay.”

The Chelsea chief has found his position under constant scrutiny since Roman Abramovich’s summer takeover – but the boss has vowed not to allow any reports over his future to unsettle him.

The Italian coach has come under further pressure as his side slumped to four defeats in seven games, leaving them seven points adrift in the Barclaycard Premiership title race, out of the Carling Cup and in need of a replay victory to beat First Division Watford in the FA Cup third round.

But Ranieri, whose side face Leicester at the Walkers Stadium tomorrow, said: “There is speculation because Mr Abramovich met Eriksson in the summer. Everyone has been speculating since their meeting.

“But it is not difficult for me and I will continue in my job. I believe in myself.”

Chelsea made a somewhat blatant attempt to draw attention to the fact that, despite their December slump, they are still in a better position than in recent years.

Reporters arriving at yesterday’s press conference at the club’s Harlington training complex were handed a sheet of statistics revealing Chelsea’s point tally – 42 – is better than any of the previous seven seasons.

Ranieri said the figures show the club are advancing. “We only had 38 points at this time last year so, although we have had a bad month, we are making progress,” he said.

However, one significant cause of concern for the Italian manager is the form, or lack of it, of £15.8m (€22.8m) striker Adrian Mutu.

The Romanian has not hit the net for 13 games but the calf injury Hernan Crespo sustained in the defeat against Liverpool means Mutu is likely to feature from the start again against Leicester.

Ranieri backed the former Parma forward to end his barren spell soon saying: “Mutu is never down. He is always confident and has a very strong character.

“Strikers have some good moments and some bad moments. Mutu scored goals at the start of the season but didn’t play well, and now he is not scoring but playing well.

“I remember his first goal was a tremendous left foot shot – but he hit the bar from five yards out against Liverpool.”

Aside from Crespo’s calf problem, Chelsea are still without winger Damien Duff (shoulder) and midfielders Juan Sebastian Veron (back) and Emmanuel Petit (knee).