Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri believes Chelsea can achieve a Premier League top-four finish this season - as long as the players buy into Antonio Conte's philosophy.
Conte won his first three league games in charge at Stamford Bridge, but the Blues have picked up just four points from their previous four games to fall five points behind table toppers Manchester City.
Standard Sport understands that Chelsea intend to stick by Conte despite two bookmakers suspending betting on the Italian being sacked on Thursday, with the coach under pressure to mount a credible title challenge after some heavy summer spending.
Former Chelsea boss Ranieri returns to Stamford Bridge for Saturday's match as a title winner following Leicester's stunning 2015/16 triumph, but the coach has backed compatriot Conte to qualify for Champions League football after working hard to change the philosophy of the west London club's squad.
Antonio Conte: Chelsea career in pictures
"Chelsea will be in the top four," Ranieri said. "Antonio Conte is working very well and hard.
"It's not easy to change the players' philosophy. They were used to the training sessions.
"Conte changed everything, and now it's important that the players follow him."
Ranieri has hinted he may play a weakened team against Chelsea due to the demands of Champions League football, with a match against FC Copenhagen up next after the trip to Stamford Bridge.
"It will be another tough match," he added. "Conte has changed the shape of Chelsea so we have to fight.
“We have to think about two matches - Chelsea and Copenhagen - so I must rotate my players because it’s important to fight in every match 100 per cent.
“It is important because my players come back two or three days before the Chelsea match. That’s not easy for me and it’s not easy for Antonio Conte, but that is football."
