Ranieri hopes Chelsea succeed Leicester as champions

With Leicester now a whopping 31 points adrift of the top and with virtually no hope of defending the title, the leader of last season's surprise package hopes that at least the trophy stays in the hands of an Italian manager.

"As former Chelsea coach and as an Italian supporter, I hope that Conte can achieve the goal [of winning the Premier League]," Ranieri said at a ceremony in Florence.

"[Conte] came to England without uproar but demonstrated that the Italian school of coaches is valid more than ever."

The Leicester manager was in his native country for the ceremony of his induction in the Italian Football Hall of Fame.