Claudio Ranieri (54 Viewers)

[BIG DADDY!!!]

Ranieri: Onwards and upwards Tuesday 26 August, 2008

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Claudio Ranieri feels it was inevitable Juventus wouldn't replicate their 4-0 thrashing of Artmedia, as they look ahead to Fiorentina.

“We knew there wouldn't have been as many goals,” smiled the Coach after a 1-1 draw in Bratislava.

“Inevitably we tried to control it after that result and had no intention of losing. We tried to win and didn't manage, but it was a good performance.”

The result still sends the Bianconeri into the Champions League group phase for the first time in two years.

Ranieri rested several stars, including David Trezeguet and Alessandro Del Piero, but Amauri netted with a looping header.

“I liked the new central midfield partnership of Christian Poulsen and Claudio Marchisio, as it was the first time they had played together.”

Pavel Nedved made his comeback after missing the first leg through suspension, but was furious when substituted in the second half and violently kicked the bench.

“Nedved wasn't happy with the substitution, but I have to think ahead to Florence. It's only natural he always wants to play!”

Juve travel to Tuscany for this Sunday's Serie A opener against the Viola. They too could be celebrating a return to the Champions League, as they lead Slavia Prague 2-0 going into Wednesday's second leg.

Channel 4

 

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[Ahmed]

Indeed, Marchisio looked excellent...Poulsen needs to be a bit more active though

 

[Cronios]

^^true

 

[Lucky Luke]

his 4-3-3 didnt work today.

 

[- vOnAm -]

who's 4-3-3?

I thought we were playing the usual 4-4-2?

I think marchisio looked excellent only after sissoko came on, the first half his passes looked good but lacks positioning. I actually think Poulsen did a better job last night, he's not active in attacks, but he kept the team solid, was the pivot in midfield.

 

[zann]

the future looks good. hahaha

 

[Kosta]

Good and funny.

 

[Lucky Luke]

who's 4-3-3?

I thought we were playing the usual 4-4-2?

I think marchisio looked excellent only after sissoko came on, the first half his passes looked good but lacks positioning. I actually think Poulsen did a better job last night, he's not active in attacks, but he kept the team solid, was the pivot in midfield.

from the 70 min we switched to 4-3-3

 

[Ahmed]

we had the game sewn up, so we weren't pushing forward at all...if the match situation had been tighter, I suspect that formation could work really well for us...and even last night, Giovinco was linking up well with Marchi and making some threatening moves down the left flank

 

[olvin]

i liked the 4-3-3. with sissoko on his back, giovinco is free to do his magic

 

[bianconero]

Indeed, Marchisio looked excellent...Poulsen needs to be a bit more active though

Poulsen is going to be first rate for us: he needs someone the ball to though.

 

[Ahmed]

wha....someone to give him the ball or he needs to give the ball to someone?

 

[bianconero]

wha....someone to give him the ball or he needs to give the ball to someone?

As boring as it sounds, a trequartista.

 

[Amaurisimo]

The hottest seat Channel 4


Juventus now seem in a position to seriously fight for honours. Antonio Labbate outlines what they must achieve for Claudio Ranieri to keep his job



When one is fortunate enough to be appointed as the Coach of a club like Juventus then winning is not an option, it is an obligation. That’s a fact that Claudio Ranieri is well aware of. While a trophy-less season last term was masked by an impressive third-place finish on their return to Serie A, will a similar type of campaign be good enough for the Old Lady to confirm her faith in the tactician?

The pressure will certainly be on all 20 top-flight Coaches when the games begin this weekend, but Ranieri is arguably under the biggest amount of scrutiny when it comes to the big five of Italian football.

Luciano Spalletti and Cesare Prandelli are adored by the Roma and Fiorentina faithful respectively, Jose Mourinho has inherited a Scudetto-winning squad at Inter and Carlo Ancelotti has the excuse – should it be needed – that Silvio Berlusconi conducted Milan’s summer spending spree.

Ranieri, on the other hand, played an influential part in Juve’s market moves and has still not totally convinced fans of his ability. He specifically requested Momo Sissoko in January and then forced the club to sign the tough tackling Christian Poulsen after spending months chasing a playmaker – Xabi Alonso to be exact.

There can now be no excuse for their likely lack of creativity in the middle of the park as Ranieri has got the central midfield he asked for. And if the side’s muscle men don’t deliver at a consistent level, then the former Chelsea and Valencia boss will primarily come under fire this time, not sporting director Alessio Secco.

So if the Bianconeri do finish the campaign empty handed, which even Juventini will have to admit is a possibility, what would they have to achieve in order for Ranieri to be kept on? A top four finish is a must for Claudio, but so too is a decent run in the Champions League. By decent I mean a place in the last 16 or the quarter-finals – depending on the quality of opposition who end their Rome bid if defeated.

Anything less than that and even Juventus’ inexperienced management trio of Giovanni Cobolli Gigli, Jean-Claude Blanc and Secco will be aware that they have to address the future of Ranieri, no matter how much of a nice guy he is.

Should I go as far as naming a possible replacement? That’ll be a bit harsh on poor Claudio at this point. Let’s just say that I’ll be quite interested to see the development of Antonio Conte at Bari this season.

 

[Amaurisimo]

Juventus.com

28 August 2008


Ranieri: «A complicated group»

In his comments about the draw, Claudio Ranieri was tipped off directly by reactions in Madrid. They’re talking of a “complicated group” in Spain (from the point of view of Real Madrid) and Juventus' Manager thinks the term hits the spot.

These are the Manager's remarks, given live to Juventus Channel: «They’re calling it a complicated group in Madrid? I totally agree; it'll be hard for everyone. Facing Real Madrid at the Bernabeu is always very exciting, not only for those who play there for the first time, but those who've had the chance to do so, too. Zenit are mid-table in the League now and that's surprising if we think that last year they did great, winning both the League and the UEFA Cup. They have important players, some of whom starred in the recent European Championships, and lately they spent 30 million Euros to buy a young Portuguese player, who has been elected as the best player in the Russian Championship. We'll see them at work tomorrow night in the Super Cup, but in any case they're a team to be reckoned with. Just like Bate Borisov who, after winning the League title in Belarus last year, are about to repeat themselves this year, as they're in first place after 18 games».

 

[cyril]

I just want him to win something with us. Lose his "loser" label, with us juventus.

 

[Ahmed]

even if he doesn't, we know the next guy is definitely gonna win something

 

[JCK]

Even if he wins some people will not remove the "loser" label off him by using the fact that the win was because of a bunch of players.

 

[Ahmed]

I agree, too much unwarranted hostility towards the Coach

 

[JCK]

It's mostly prejudice.