Ranieri's admits uncertain future at Chelsea

Claudio Ranieri’s position at Chelsea is under fresh scrutiny today after the Italian coach overshadowed tonight’s vital Champions League showdown with Stuttgart by revealing he cannot plan for his future at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues boss has been told by new chief executive Peter Kenyon that this season will be categorised as a failure unless the Italian secures some silverware.

That has proved impossible in the FA Cup and Carling Cup – Chelsea being dumped out by Arsenal and Aston Villa – and the Londoners trail the table-topping Gunners by nine points in the title race.

That means, barring a disastrous domestic collapse by Arsenal, the Champions League is the Blues’ only source of success – so another cup exit tonight would effectively end their season.

And Ranieri, whose side kick off at Stamford Bridge 1-0 up from the first leg, marked the eve of the game with a surprise outburst.

Speaking at a press conference at the club’s training ground, the manager, who had been briefed by club officials not to comment on his own future, prompted looks of surprise when he said: “I can’t look too far forward and you know why that is better than me.

“If you saw every day that Sven-Goran Eriksson was going to arrive, how could you look forward? I only look at the next day.

“I want to win everything but not because I must win. My job is to build.”

England coach Eriksson is just one of a host of names who have been linked to the Chelsea job – a posting which brings with it the pressure of delivering in return for Roman Abramovich’s enormous outlay on players.

To add to Ranieri’s concerns about his own job, the boss has a real selection poser to grapple with before kick-off tonight.

He is tempted to hand Damien Duff his first start of 2004.

But the Irish winger, Chelsea’s record signing and – by wide consensus – Ranieri’s most important player, has been dogged by shoulder and Achilles injuries.

The latter is still causing him discomfort – a situation which concerned Ranieri to the extent that he limited Duff to a late appearance off the bench in Stuttgart.

In his absence, Chelsea failed to muster a single shot on target and only won because of Fernando Meira’s own-goal.

Ranieri must now decide whether to pitch Duff back into the fray from kick-off.

“Damien is the man who can open every door for us,” the manager enthused.

“He is an amazing player. He is very important as he has ability, speed, good crossing and can read every player. He can score a goal and make a goal.

“He is not the normal Damien at the moment though. It is not easy when a player is injured but he is coming back and wants to end his frustration and do something for the team.”

If Duff’s injury may worry Blues fans, they were comforted by John Terry’s revelation a wave of confidence has flooded the dressing room and convinced the team they have the ability to be crowned kings of Europe.

Terry disclosed it is his team-mates’ ability to triumph on enemy territory which sparked their rush of self-belief.

Chelsea have won each of their five away games in Europe’s top club competition this season, including November’s spectacular 4-0 victory against Lazio in Rome.

And centre back Terry, 23, said: “This is the first time I have played in the Champions League and it is a great experience.

“We have got a mix of experience and youth and, deep down, every player believes we can win it.

“You have to have that confidence in yourself. We have already had a lot of wins and announced our arrival in European football.

“We always believe we can go and get a win and there is no point going if you don’t believe that.”

Stuttgart arrived in London yesterday boosted by a revival in their poor February fortunes.

Boss Felix Magath called his players to a clear-the-air dinner last week and they responded by winning 2-0 at Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.

Stuttgart are third in the Bundesliga and will hope for better luck against Chelsea than on their last visit to England. They lost 2-0 against Manchester United in a Champions League group game in December.