Ranieri backs Sven

Claudio Ranieri leapt to the defence of embattled Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson in Hong Kong today – and the Italian insists the Swede can lift the Blues into the Premier League’s top four.

Speculation has been rife over Eriksson’s future, with City owner Thaksin Shinawatra conducting a review of the club and reportedly lining up a replacement.