Chelsea are clinging to their Champions League ambitions, but Claudio Ranieri admitted yesterday his grip on the club has been broken. The return leg of the semi-final against Monaco this evening could be the manager's last match of great note at Stamford Bridge.Stamford Bridge, 7.45On TV: Net 2, Sky Sp 1

Ranieri's men start 3-1 down to Monaco because of his bungled supervision of the contest at the Stade Louis II, and the gravity of the situation has made him impatient with pretence. He was asked if triumph in the Champions League final could keep him in his post. "Come on, my friend," he responded, inviting laughter and realism.

To an inquiry from a radio interviewer, he replied, "My destiny is already decided."

Ranieri was never under any illusion about his prospects following Roman Abramovich's takeover. It is a truth universally acknowledged that an oligarch in possession of billions must be in want of a new manager.

"I knew from the start," Ranieri admitted. "I didn't know the name of the next coach, but now I know. Everybody knows."

The thought of unemployment, with a €9 million pay-off, makes him comical, and he impersonated an award show host when invited to reveal the identity of his successor. "And the winner is . . ." he said, as if pausing for a drum roll from the orchestra pit.

Most will insert the name of Porto's manager Jose Mourinho into the gap that Ranieri left unfilled. It is too late for obfuscation and the Italian has at least wiped away all issues other than the outcome of the duel with Monaco. Events have also erased a few players from his plans.

Claude Makelele and Marcel Desailly are suspended, while Adrian Mutu and Damien Duff are injured. The swift William Gallas is fit for a return to the back four and Scott Parker has recovered from a knock to resume in midfield.

Chelsea feel that their position is desperate, yet a liberation comes over men who have nothing left to fear.

"Monaco have one foot in the final," said Ranieri, "and we have a last chance. We need to give our best performance of the season and maybe they have to have their worst. We know that, but football is a wonderful game."

Ranieri ascribes his mishandling of the first leg to a regard for Didier Deschamps' team. He made reckless changes to the Chelsea line-up and succumbed to the 3-1 defeat despite a red card for the Monaco midfielder Andreas Zikos.

"My mistake was that I had a lot of respect for them and I knew very well that the second leg would be no easier," Ranieri said. "So I tried to win there. They have a very good record away."

It is the propensity of the visitors to score that could deflate Chelsea. For a while at least, the English club will have to give a high priority to defending and John Terry, who could potentially be ruled out of the final through a suspension incurred by a booking, knows he cannot protect his own interests when Chelsea's hopes have to be heavily guarded.

"If the tackle's there to be made I've got to make it," said the centre half. "My mind has got to be on this game only."

The back four have been reassured by the return at the weekend of the goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini after his broken hand.

Chelsea can be content to wait, and Saturday's late burst in the 4-0 win over Southampton underlined that they have the best Premiership record this season in the last 15 minutes of matches.

Ranieri is not worried the debacle in the Stade Louis II will deter employers. "I don't think I have a bad reputation. Everybody can make mistakes. But very few can admit it. I am one of those."

Ranieri and Chelsea would be ecstatic if there were a place in the Champions League final as well as a history of candour to be recorded on his CV.