6 Truths: Claudio Ranieri under no pressure, Zinedine Zidane deserves much more credit

Bizarrely, people still seem to be under the impression that Claudio Ranieri is under some pressure. Of course he isn't. Having delivered the Premier League title to Leicester City's delirious fans only last season, Ranieri is now overseeing a pretty dismal season, but it really does not matter on the whole given the iconic status he has already secured for himself. Ensuring survival this season is all that is really required, and Leicester still have more than enough quality to do so.

What has gone largely overlooked in the midst of the inauspicious defence of their Premier League title is the fact that they are in the last 16 of the Champions League with the very real opportunity of reaching the last eight. Despite it having been a frustrating domestic campaign so far, Ranieri can still secure yet more history for the club with a continued run through the knockout stages in Europe. The pressure is not on Ranieri in any way, despite what some people seem to want to think.

How about winning the Champions League? How about winning the Super Cup? How about winning the Club World Cup? And now, how about breaking a club record with a 42nd consecutive game marked by a goal? Zinedine Zidane's record as Real Madrid manager has been imperious. Yet et he still doesn't get nearly enough credit for the fact.

Zidane's side surpassed the previous club record set in 1952 which was equalled in 1989 and 2012 with the goals from Alvaro Morata and the returning Gareth Bale against Espanyol at the Bernabeu, and it was yet another brilliant achievement under the Frenchman's guidance. Somehow keeping most of his star players happy while winning games and revelling in the biggest of moments, Zidane is doing everything right.

What goes around comes around. Joey Barton hit twitter to laugh at Celtic’s defeat to Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar in the Champions League qualifiers after he joined Rangers last July. Little did he know back then that he would be bundled out of Rangers before Christmas after a bust-up with management, and back in a Burnley strip by February facing the original Imps in non-league Lincoln at Turf Moor.

A goal from Sean Raggett condemned Burnley to a 1-0 defeat in the FA Cup last 16, but only after Barton disgracefully dived to try to get a player sent off. It prompted a wave of derision that Barton somehow denied on Twitted despite the TV pictures being damning. Barton has an autobiography called No Nonsense, but there is no real need for the no in the title.

The sight of Pep Guardiola doling out a savage dressing-down to Fabian Delph during his side's goalless draw with Huddersfield was pretty striking, but it also demonstrated the mentality. Many Manchester City fans needed to see Guardiola demonstrate the kind of passion and rage which was very much evident as he bawled out Delph, and it has gone down very well indeed with many supporters.

Guardiola appeared to have a go at Delph - an £8m signing from Villa in July 2015 - when he replaced him with Kevin De Buryne on 69 minutes in what was a rare appearance for the former Aston Villa midfielder.

No one is quite sure what ththe dismay was about, but it would have sent a strong message not only to the England midfielder. He also reminded the other City players that this is a coach not prepared to settle for mediocrity, despite recent struggles.

Carlo Ancelotti won Chelsea's first league and cup double back in 2010. Fast forward seven years and it looks like another Italian is in a strong position to emulate his compatriot. Antonio Conte's team can win playing wonderful, flowing football - but they can also grind out results.

There have been more than a couple of shock slayings this season, but despite toling early on at Molineu, they emerged victorious by making full use of their squad. It remains to be seen who the Premier League leaders land in the last eight, but the habit of being hard to beat suggest few would bet against Chelsea securing an eighth FA Cup triumph in May.

Celtic can't stop winning, and Moussa Dembele can't stop scoring. The 2-0 victory over Motherwell at Celtic Park means the Glasgow side are 13 matches away from going through an entire Scottish league season unbeaten as they move an astonishing 27 points clear at the summit. They have won 24 out of 25 matches with their young French striker netting 10 goals in his past eight games to take his season's haul to 27 in 41 games. Little wonder there is talk of Dembele earning a France call-up.

Little wonder there is talk of a £40m bidding war looming among some of Europe's bigger league for the striker this summer. Bayern Munich are the latest club to be linked with the forward. Celtic's challenge is holding him for another season.