Ranieri: We lack winning formula

"Right now there is no question that we are fighting our way back up again and with the Champions League coming around the corner at us it is vital that Chelsea is once again really strong and ready."

Achieving the balance between his vision and the demands of Roman Abramovich's ambitions will dictate not just the club's but his own immediate future.

"The entire football world must know by now that I am deeply concerned with the future of Chelsea and not just thinking day by day," he said. "I already know full well that coaches are not always permitted such visions to come to fruition because time is always ticking. I have a contract until 2007 and I have every intention of seeing it out but I know exactly how football works."

Having fought off the 'Sven-Goran Eriksson for Chelsea' stories again and again, you get the sense that Ranieri sees the tide turning slightly in his favour and that he is willing to change the terms of the debate.

"Roman Abramovich is very ambitious and he wants us to put his club at the same level as Real Madrid," Ranieri admitted, although it is yet to be confirmed whether that obsession extends to signing both Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo this summer. "We have a good relationship, I usually-seem him about once a week, he is very amenable and what I have asked him is to take us to a squad of 22 excellent players.

"At the moment we have 14 or so but I want to be able to count on two players of the highest level for ever position in the team."

Ranieri also admits that he is beginning to take his adopted country and current home to his heart: "I like it in England because there is a lot of humour in football there. I feel loved when I come back to Spain after such good years here but I'm happy and at ease in England."

Yet he follows Spain's La Liga with the enthusiasm of a football anorak. David Beckham, regardless of his "unwillingness" to contemplate a move to Stamford Bridge has thrilled Ranieri.

"The English are fighters from birth," he enthuses.

"Beckham is a fighter, he is strong and above all he has real quality and that is the simple way to explain his success in Spain. He's a great lad."

Then comes the traditional 'Claudio moment'. Ask him if Ronaldo is fat, as his "little fatty" nickname all around Spain might suggest and the grin flashes immediately.

"Ronaldo? Fat? Well he's not slim that's for sure. But give him two opportunities and he'll always score one of them against you. That's Ronaldo!"