Ranieri has player support

By Simon Austin

Report: Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea

Former Chelsea star Frank Leboeuf says the current squad at Stamford Bridge are "appalled" at the way manager Claudio Ranieri has been treated.

Ranieri led the Blues to one of the greatest wins in their history when they beat Arsenal 2-1 on Tuesday to reach the Champions League semi-finals.

But his future at Chelsea remains in doubt after months of uncertainty.

"I guess the players are a little bit appalled at the situation," Leboeuf told BBC Sport.

"The man is great, he's got good communication with the players and is somebody who wants to succeed."

Leboeuf is currently playing for Al-Sadd in Qatar, but keeps in touch with his former team-mates at Chelsea.

"I speak to Marcel Desailly, Emmanuel Petit, Celestine Babayaro sometimes on the phone," Leboeuf said.

I am still a big fan of Chelsea so I really hope they can go through to the semi-finals Frank Leboeuf

"They are very supportive of him. They stick to his ideas and tactics, and to the guy, and don't understand why anything should change.

"He deserves some credit because he has done a very good job, even if he hasn't won anything yet.

"Instead of speaking about him in the middle of the season, the board should wait until the end of the season."

Chelsea will face Monaco in the semi-finals of the Champions League after the French side caused a major shock by beating Real Madrid in the last eight.

Leboeuf is a good friend of Monaco boss Didier Deschamps and is not surprised he has been so successful in his fledgling career as a coach.

"Didier was always a leader on the pitch. He made the game very simple as a player and I'm sure he's doing the same as a manager.

"I am still a big fan of Chelsea - maybe the biggest fan of all - so I really hope they can go through to the semi-finals.

"But I'm also a very close friend of Didier, so my heart is a little bit broken. I just hope that the best team can win."

Chelsea sign Robben

Meanwhile, PSV forward Arjen Robben - who has signed a contract to join Chelsea in the summer - has revealed he hopes Ranieri stays at Stamford Bridge.

"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," said Robben.

"Ranieri is a very good trainer who wants to make his players better."