Claudio met with Peter Kenyon on Wednesday to discuss his future at the club, having been the subject of intense speculation the moment Roman bought the club. And, not for the first time this season, he has admitted that he is a dead man walking!

Claudio told the Gazetto Della Sport: "It could be the case that I lose my job at the end of the season. When the ownership of a club changes, the owner has the right to change the coach.

"Abramovich wanted to change last July but he didn't find what he was looking for. It gives me great pleasure to receive so much affection (from the fans) but the logic of football is different. Del Bosque was sacked from Madrid despite winning the league but not the Champions League.

"I try to explain to the English people that having coached in Italy these situations are elementary.''

Claudio also explained what his plans were for the squad, as well as how he convinced all of the new players to join: "I decided that in order to create a group, to construct a team, the method was the systematic turnover.

"I have been criticised for some time because I reinforced the team so much but look at the results. I now have a nearly complete team with Juan Sebastian Veron and Carlo Cudicini close to making their comeback and the rest of players are all fresh.

"I explained to the new players that arrived that they would play 30 games instead of 60 and I convinced the veterans that the same applied to them. No-one likes to be on the bench but it was the only way to achieve fusion and the collective spirit."

Reports since Ranieri's meeting on Wednesday suggest that the Italian will meet with Peter Kenyon again after the Champions League semi final! Is it just me, or does everyone else get the impression that Kenyon is just trying to think of any excuse to sack Ranners?