Ferrara: 'Give me the Juve job' Saturday 23 May, 2009
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Ciro Ferrara admits he would like to stay on the Juventus bench next season, so even more hangs on these two games than thought possible.
The head co-ordinator of the youth team sector was given his first management job when Claudio Ranieri was axed this week and makes his debut against Siena on Sunday.
“These are intense and strong emotions, different from those I’ve had in recent years. It’s a very exciting adventure and I’m happy to be here,” grinned the new Coach in his Press conference.
“Is it my big chance? I accepted without hesitation, now my best response will be in the results. I never would’ve thought I’d be here on this bench two games from the end of the season.
“I am going to take my chances, from tomorrow I am a Coach and that is what I want to do from now on.”
Antonio Conte, another ex-Juve player, has just taken Bari to promotion and is the favourite to take over from next term.
However, depending on how Ferrara performs in these two rounds, he could be given the reins on a permanent basis.
“[General manager Jean-Claude] Blanc did not give me any guarantees for next season, but he did give me hope. He didn’t tell me I would be on the Juve bench for two games and that’d be it.
“A couple of victories in these matches could be very important for me and a bonus looking to the future.
“Would I give up my Italy job for Juve? I will be able to tell you that at the end of June,” added the consultant to Marcello Lippi.
“My experience with the Nazionale also counts for a lot here, but Lippi is not influencing my decisions now and I make my own choices. I like playing with a four-man defence, that is my only tactical certainty.”
Ferrara is a former Juve defender and teammate of several players still in the squad, but won’t let that affect his judgment.
“At the start of the week I was very clear, as one must distinguish between friendship and my responsibilities. I received the respect I wanted and found great professionals, so we never kid around in training.
“It doesn’t take much to turn around a negative trend and I worked above all on their mentality and self-confidence. In the last two months the players had a psychological block, but I saw a good reaction in training.”
Alessandro Del Piero pulled up in training this week with a bruised thigh, but joined in the full session today and could feature.
“Siena will be motivated in their final home game of the season, but we have to be even more so. There will be no revolution in my line-up, I will tell the players on the morning of the match.”
Ranieri became the first Juventus Coach in 40 years to be sacked mid-season, though Ferrara tried to remain diplomatic.
“He was my Coach and some people tried to create tension between us, which disappoints me. Being fired is a difficult moment, one I have never experienced.
“I have not spoken to Ranieri and it is not my place to say whether the change was necessary. What is crucial is that we end the season on Juve’s level for the club and the fans. The 'real’ Juventus is the one seen against Real Madrid.”
from channel 4
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