Ranieri has Inter backing

Inter director Ernesto Paolillo insists that under-fire coach Claudio Ranieri will not be sacked despite the club’s dreadful dip in form.

The Nerazzurri have lost their past four games in Serie A and are now in very real danger of failing to qualify for next season’s Champions League having slipped to seventh in the standings, nine points in arrears of third-placed Udinese.

However, Paolillo said that Ranieri retains the full confidence of the club’s board.

“We’ve spoken regularly with him,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “He’s very confident and I’m very optimistic about him. He is not at risk. The trust in him is unconditional.”

“We hope that the results will help us. They are like lightning in the damage they can cause but we hope that (Sunday) will not be like this.”

Paolillo also backed Ranieri over his tactical issues with Netherlands international Wesley Sneijder, which have sometimes seen the coach fail to accommodate the midfielder in his side.

“One would always like to see the talented players on the field,” the director said.

“Inter has so many good players and one sometimes has to make decisions, so we will leave Ranieri in peace to make his.”

Inter face Catania at San Siro on Sunday night.