Petit: I'm off too

Emmanuel Petit last night confirmed that Claudio Ranieri will be sacked at the end of the season - then announced he plans to follow his manager out of Stamford Bridge in the summer.

As Sportsmail revealed on Tuesday, the Italian told his players of his fate at the start of this week, and former France international Petit, 33, has since resigned himself to the fact that he will also leave.

The World Cup- winning midfielder said: 'I'd have loved to stay here, at Chelsea, and in London. Yes, that was my original plan and my true desire. But since my coach is not staying, I'm not interested in staying myself.

'We now know Claudio Ranieri won't be involved at Stamford Bridge next season, so why should I stay? After all, it was him who came to get me when I was at Barcelona.'

However, as one Chelsea player heads for the door, another, Boudewijn Zenden, hopes he will be given a second chance.

Zenden was farmed out by Ranieri to Middlesbrough but the Holland winger wants to move back to London despite the presence of Damien Duff and the impeding arrival of fellow Dutchman Arjen Robben.

Zenden said: 'I've never given up hope of returning to Chelsea. The paperwork says I'll be a Chelsea player again so I have to think about going back.

'I want to play at the highest level. It's good Middlesbrough are in the UEFA Cup but it's probable Chelsea will play in the Champions League.'