Ranieri explains Juve move
Monday 4 June, 2007
Claudio Ranieri has spoken for the first time as Juventus boss following his appointment. “You just can’t so no to this club,” he noted.
Ranieri was unveiled to the media this evening, just hours after he signed a three-year contract, and he immediately explained his decision to join the outfit rather than move to Manchester City as was widely expected.
“When Juventus call there is little to think about,” said the man who sensationally kept Parma in the top flight last season.
“There was a project to start from scratch at Manchester City, but they haven’t yet been bought by a new owner and the weeks were passing by…
“The Juve negotiations came about in a surprising manner. It was like a bolt out of the blue as I didn’t expect it.
“I had read my name in the newspapers and I asked myself whether it was true. Then there was the first call and that was pleasing.
“You simply just can’t say no to a club like Juventus. And I didn’t!”
The Old Lady turned to Ranieri following the departure of Didier Deschamps and he’s looking forward to the task following their return to Serie A.
“It’s a great challenge, tough and electrifying,” he added. “We need to work hard and get back to the positions which Juventus deserve to be in.
“I thank Juventus for choosing me and this fills me with pride. There is an ambitious project and I’m certain that we will do well.”
When asked what his side could realistically achieve next term, Ranieri insisted that it will take time to rebuild the club following Calciopoli.
“The club have told me they want to be back to the very highest levels in five years, we’ll look to make that happen sooner,” he added.
“I was shown the possibility of taking Juventus back to the positions where they are used to competing.
“The squad will be a mix of champions and youngsters with great potential. Our transfer targets? We certainly won’t be giving any names to the media.”
The former Chelsea and Valencia man also urged the supporters to demonstrate a certain degree of patience.
“The fans have suffered a lot in Serie B and there will be more tough times ahead,” he continued.
“It’s not important to say that we will win the Scudetto. It is just vital that we become the girlfriend of Italy again – that is more important than a result.
“The fans should stay calm as we will make them proud of what Juventus will do in the future. We will always be compared to the old Juventus, but they don’t exist anymore.
“Nostalgia will always be there, but we are focused on the present and the future.”
The Press conference didn’t go exactly to plan though for Ranieri when he was asked for a comment on next season’s derby clash.
“I welcome back Torino to Serie A,” he said before he realised that it was Juventus who went up and not Toro.
“Well, they should welcome us back then…I hope it will be a derby worthy of this city, nice to watch and stimulating.”
Juventus director general Jean-Claude Blanc insisted the club were delighted with the capture of the 55-year-old.
“To have Claudio here with us falls in with the Juventus style and we want to carry that on in the future,” he noted.
“We have given him a three-year contract because stability is important for our project and we were in agreement on many of our strategic plans.”
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