Ranieri backs Chelsea to bring Leicester title

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) - All eyes will be on Stamford Bridge as the Premier League title race moves to the home of Chelsea on Monday -- except those of Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri.

Leicester, who drew 1-1 at Manchester United on Sunday, will complete their historic quest for the title if second-place Tottenham Hotspur cannot end a 26-year wait for a victory at Chelsea.

Ranieri, however, will be flying back from Italy, where he said he is due to meet his 96-year-old mother for lunch, and he is not sure if his players will be huddled around a television either.

Asked if the Leicester squad would be assembling to watch the game, Ranieri replied: "I don't know. I didn't ask. They are free. They have a day off."

Should Spurs succeed in defeating Chelsea, last season's champions, Leicester can secure the title in front of their own fans by beating Everton at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

But even though Ranieri was sacked by Chelsea in 2004, becoming the first managerial casualty of Russian owner Roman Abramovich's tenure, he is hoping that his former employers do Leicester's job for them.

"I want to win. It's not important when, believe me," chuckled the 64-year-old Italian.

"If I have a chance to win tomorrow, for us it is important to win. Juventus won (the title) on Monday in Italy (after Napoli lost to Roma). Why not?

"In my mind Tottenham will win all three matches. I am now focused on the Everton match. When I was Chelsea manager, the true derby was against Tottenham. It's a derby."

Chelsea preventing Spurs from winning would allow Ranieri to return to Stamford Bridge in triumph for Leicester's final game of the season, but he is keeping his mind firmly on the here and now.

"I don't want to speak about so long (ago)," he said.

"I want to speak about the next match (against) Everton. I know all the city is blue, but we must continue to stay concentrated without special fireworks.

"We have to stay there, on the pitch, and think there will be another tough match."