Leicester owner flies in from Thailand to assure Claudio Ranieri his job is safe
- Leicester are currently 16th in the table having won the title last season
- Foxes manager Claudio Ranieri has been backed by the club despite struggles
- The Leicester owner will fly in for Wednesday's FA Cup replay against Derby
Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha will today fly in from Thailand to meet Claudio Ranieri face-to-face and provide assurance his job is free from threat after issuing a public statement of support on Tuesday.
The billionaire had not intended to leave his homeland to attend the FA Cup tie against Derby but feels the scrutiny on Ranieri warrants his attention.
Sportsmail understands Ranieri is preparing to make a number changes to his side for the visit of the club’s East Midlands rivals in a clear sign Sunday’s crunch Premier League game at Swansea is being prioritised.
![Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has been backed with the club struggling in the league](http://web.archive.org./web/20171127212713/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/07/13/3CEC804F00000578-4199774-image-a-59_1486474984503.jpg)
Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri is battling to keep the champions in the Premier League
![Foxes owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha (right) will fly in to assure Ranieri his job is safe](http://web.archive.org./web/20171127212713/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/07/20/33B7E30000000578-4201002-image-a-12_1486498877315.jpg)
Foxes owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha (right) will fly in to assure Ranieri his job is safe
The Italian was in ebullient mood at his press conference on Tuesday, no doubt buoyed by the vote of confidence issued by his club moments before he began answering questions at the King Power Stadium.
He particularly enjoyed extending the metaphor he first used at Chelsea when negative reports began to bite. ‘Now there are a lot of sharks and I am on the wind-surfer,’ he said with a smile and a hand gesture in response to questions about his position. ‘I accept this. This is our life. Last season was a fairytale, this season is not a fairytale, but it is alive. Now it is important to be positive without bad, bad words.’
The bad word in particular was ‘relegation’ and it should become clear how much emphasis is being placed on avoiding the drop when the teamsheets come out tonight.
Wes Morgan will be rested for the first time this season – he has played 90 minutes in every previous match – so Marcin Wasilewski and Yohan Benalouane are expected to start. Bartosz Kapustka is also in contention.
Srivaddhanaprabha has impressed the importance of 40 points to Ranieri and while rotation brings a risk of defeat to Championship opposition, Leicester would pay that price to get a win in South Wales in four day’s time.
Stressing unity was the order of the day for Leicester after it emerged unrest has developed between Ranieri and his players and staff over tactics and communication.
![Leicester City won the Premier League title in 2016 but this season have suffered badly](http://web.archive.org./web/20171127212713/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/07/20/33EFE7D800000578-4201002-image-m-14_1486498998339.jpg)
Ranieri guided the Foxes to the title in 2016 but Leicester are in a relegation battle this season
Leicester took the bold step of releasing a statement which read: 'In light of recent speculation, Leicester City Football Club would like to make absolutely clear its unwavering support for its First Team Manager, Claudio Ranieri.
'While there is a collective appreciation from everyone at the Club that recent form needs to improve, the unprecedented success achieved in recent seasons has been based firmly on stability, togetherness and determination to overcome even the greatest of challenges.
‘The entire Club is and will remain united behind its manager and behind its players, collectively and firmly focused on the challenges ahead.’
Ranieri said the public backing did not come at his request and laughed knowingly when it was proposed such a thing can be considered a kiss of death in England. ‘It Italy too,’ he chuckled.
He dismissed accusations from his homeland that his management career has been punctuated by second-season dips. ‘The people speak because they have a tongue, but it’s not connected to the brain sometimes,’ he said.
Ranieri also rejected the suggestion his relationship with his team was strained. ‘It is the same as last season,’ he said. ‘I speak the same sh***y English and they understand me.
‘I say to my players, “My door is always open”. Sometimes I come to them and sometimes they come to me. It’s a fantastic relationship. This season it’s more because they think it is well we stay together to improve the situation.'
![Ranieri pictured in discussion with his assistant, Craig Shakespeare, in training on Tuesday](http://web.archive.org./web/20171127212713/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/07/20/3CEC803A00000578-4201002-Ranieri_pictured_in_discussion_with_his_assistant_Craig_Shakespe-m-15_1486499009270.jpg)
Ranieri pictured in discussion with his assistant, Craig Shakespeare, in training on Tuesday
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20171127212713/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/07/22/3CF0B13900000578-4201002-image-a-12_1486507819433.jpg)
In the Premier League Leicester have won one game in nine and are yet to score in 2017 to sit two points above bottom in 16th place. But Ranieri presented a firm case for survival and stirring tribute to his team.
‘It’s not a crisis,’ he said. ‘Of course when don’t win you lack a little confidence. But fortunately these players are warriors and used to fighting. They already lived these situations. It is important I stay with the soldiers who know the problem, who know the enemy.
‘When I was a player a long time ago I criticised always myself, now as a manager more, because the responsibilities are more. Then I have to see in the face my players. If I make a mistake I tell them.
‘I want them to think about this. It is not a problem to make mistakes because all the world makes mistakes. But it is important to understand and improve. I love my players – they gave me something special in my career. Never had I won title. I can say thanks for all my life to them.'
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