Pellegrini, who has been linked with Chelsea, has said he would like to remain in the Premier League although he would not been drawn on his future at his news conference ahead of the top-of-the-table clash with surprise leaders Leicester City.
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Leicester City are now top of the Premier League while Tottenham Hotspur sit third – just five points behind.
Leicester hold a three-point lead at the top and have shown no signs of slowing down with the outstanding Jamie Vardy firing them to a superb 2-0 victory over Liverpool in midweek.
Ranieri, however, has never got carried away at any stage and he is clearly not going to drop his guard now.
“I’d like to say, ‘Yes we can!’ But I am not Obama”, Ranieri said, smiling. “I was so bored last time that I tried to make you a little bit more amused!”
While doubters question their ability to last the pace, Leicester’s recent results have convinced Ranieri his players are embracing the spotlight and won’t wilt under the pressure of battling for their first top-flight title. “We must stay with our feet on the ground”.
‘I think it’s very good for the Premier League and probably next year another new team will be involved in the fight for the title, ‘ said the City manager. There’s no reason why we can’t play on Saturday because Chelsea will rest for four days, exactly the same as we want to rest before we play Dynamo. I think all the people understand we are doing something extraordinary so far. They started playing with high confidence, knowing what they can do.
There has been doubt over when Kompany might return but manager Manuel Pellegrini expressed hope last week that Kompany could be back within a fortnight.
“It’s very easy. We have to play Champions League on Wednesday”.
City fans haven’t always been fulsome in praise of the man in charge, but none can have failed to be impressed by the manner in which he has handled himself during the months of incessant talk of Pep’s arrival which must have been both irritating and distracting.
The flip side of course is the potential damage a defeat might do to the morale of Ranieri’s players before they travel to Arsenal for another crucial clash next weekend.
The Ghana worldwide joined Leicester on January 23 but has yet to make the squad, having last played a competitive game for former club FC Copenhagen at the start of December because of the winter break.
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“I’d like to say yes we can but I am not Barack Obama, ‘” joked Ranieri. That is what we want. We want our fans to dream but we know it’s a tough match and from now there will only be tough matches.
