Claudio Ranieri and Andriy Shevchenko have laughed off the prospect of becoming Chelsea's next manager after Jose Mourinho's departure.

Mourinho was axed at Stamford Bridge on Friday morning after a disastrous run of nine defeats from 16 Premier League games to open the season.

Ranieri, in charge of Premier League leader Leicester City, insisted any reports linking him with a return to his former club - which Leicester beat 2-1 on Tuesday - were pure speculation.

"I think only about Leicester now," Ranieri said. "That is speculation. I am an old man and I have  read a lot of speculation. 

"But of course it's much better this kind of speculation than Greece speculation of course."

Former Chelsea striker Shevchenko, meanwhile, suggested he was not yet ready to begin a career in management.

Speaking at the Kuwait Champions Challenge, the 39 year-old laughed when asked if he wanted to manage the Blues and said: "Listen, I won't start my career for another year yet. When I have started, it will probably be the right question for me.

"Right now, I'm still thinking about by career as in management like as a sporting director or working in administration of a club. Maybe I will soon start my own career as a manager."