Blanc: We're the same team Sunday 13 December, 2009
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Juventus President Jean-Claude Blanc stands by Ciro Ferrara and reminds critics this is the best side they have had in years.
“It has only been a week since we beat Inter. Such an achievement should be embraced, even if we do have trouble against the likes of Bari the following weekend” he said after the 3-1 defeat to Bari.
“If Juve opened up the Scudetto race a week ago then it means they have the quality to achieve great things. What we lack is consistency and efficiency in front of goal, plus great strikers like Cristiano Ronaldo."
“For now fans should be content with the win over Inter, looking forward to our Champions League campaign next year.
“It’s not in the history of Juventus to change management, even if I proved differently a few months ago. The team is in my control. Ferrara is the Coach of the future and we will continue working with him to build the team for the next decade.”
Yet Blanc is the man who sacked Claudio Ranieri towards the end of last season and brought in Ferrara for their third tactician in as many years.
“Deschamps decided to walk away and it was his choice, not ours. We fired Ranieri and it was a decision we had to take in order to finish in the top two. We thought Ferrara would have learned a lot under Deschamps and Ranieri.”
It was still 2-1 at the Stadio San Nicola when big summer signing Diego ballooned a spot-kick over the bar.
“We had many opportunities, the ball didn’t go in and missing the penalty changed the game in my view. I think if that spot-kick had gone in, the match would’ve ended in a very different way, perhaps to a score of 3-2 for Bari.
“Important transfers can take a while to settle in, as seen with Tiago. After a couple years of poor form, it is nice to see him playing world class football again.”
Football Italia