Robben: Chelsea should keep Ranieri

Claudio Ranieri today received public backing from his most recent and, possibly, final signing.

Arjen Robben will join Chelsea for £12 million from PSV Eindhoven this summer. But the 20-year-old Dutch international is already concerned that Ranieri, who played a major part in persuading him to choose Chelsea over Manchester United, may not be at the club when he arrives.

Robben said: "It's a bit strange signing for a club where you don't know who the manager will be but in football you're never sure about anything. In a few weeks Ranieri could be fired - but nothing is certain.

" I hope Ranieri stays because we had a meeting and he came across as a man who can work with young players. That's very important.

"Ranieri is a very good trainer who wants to make his players better. He likes young players and has improved youngsters in the past, which is vital to me."

Speculation over Ranieri's future continues to rage. There are unconfirmed reports today that Chelsea are considering a dramatic U-turn over the Italian. It is claimed Roman Abramovich, the club's billionaire owner, has told Ranieri his job will be safe if he wins the Champions League.

The prospect of that increased last night after Deportivo La Coruna's sensational 4-0 second leg victory that knocked out holders AC Milan.

After that result, Chelsea were immediately installed as Champions League favourites.

There is now even talk that Ranieri is a potential target for Real Madrid.

The Football Association have angrily denied stories that Sven-Goran Eriksson has a verbal agreement that he could still walk out of the England job after Euro 2004 to go to Madrid.