Tell us, Sven

Chelsea have joined the Football Association in urgently pressing Sven Goran Eriksson to decide his future as Stamford Bridge officials step up their attempts to replace Claudio Ranieri.

Ranieri now seems certain to be axed by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich at the end of the season. Even an unlikely Champions League triumph against Arsenal this week will not be enough to save him.

His sacking will prompt dismay among the Chelsea squad, the majority of whom have remained fiercely loyal to their Italian manager. But Ranieri appears increasingly resigned to his fate and has even asked his players not to allow it to affect their performance in the first leg of the quarterfinal showdown on Wednesday.

Chelsea now want to act swiftly in agreeing a deal with Ranieri's successor and, to that end, have asked long-standing first choice Eriksson to decide whether he will carry on as England coach beyond Euro 2004. The FA, who are equally keen to settle Eriksson's future, are confident they will be able to persuade him to reject what would be a highly controversial move to Stamford Bridge when they begin talks this week.

Should Eriksson commit himself to seeing out his current deal, which ends in 2006, or even signing the two-year extension he has been offered, Chelsea will turn to alternative candidates from a short list believed to feature Ottmar Hitzfeld, Fabio Capello, Carlo Ancelotti and Martin O'Neill.

Ranieri, meanwhile, admits he has been gratified by the support of his players. He said: 'I feel very close to them. They give me strength and we will continue to fight together. But the game on Wednesday is important for Chelsea's future.