Players 'appalled by Ranieri smokescreen'

Chelsea’s players have been “appalled” at the treatment of manager Claudio Ranieri by the club this season, former Blues defender Frank Leboeuf has claimed.

The squad remain united in their support of their coach, who has urged them to keep the Barclaycard Premiership title pressure on Arsenal when they take on Middlesbrough tomorrow.

Leboeuf revealed: “I guess the players are a bit appalled at the situation. The man is great, he’s got good communication with the players and is somebody who wants to succeed.

“They are very supportive of him. They stick to his ideas and tactics, and to the guy himself, and don’t understand why anything should change.

“He deserves some credit because he has done a very good job, even if he hasn’t won anything yet. Instead of speaking about him in the middle of the season, the board should wait until the end of the season.”

Middlesbrough midfielder George Boateng insists everyone at the club is confident of taking something from their trip to Stamford Bridge.