Ranieri: Juve blew it!
Claudio Ranieri has warned his Juventus players they “missed their chance” to earn a first team place in their Coppa Italia debacle.
The Coach fielded a second string side for the 2-1 defeat at Empoli on Thursday evening, as midfielders Sergio Almiron and Tiago Mendes among others were very disappointing.
“I didn’t expect to see a well-oiled machine, but I did want them to run so hard they turned the turf into mud,” said Ranieri.
“Empoli were also reshuffled, but they did all the running. It was a missed opportunity. I gave some chances and they were not taken. It’s a shame and we’ll have to see if I’ll be giving any more shots.
“When you see a performance like that, you cannot be happy. Now we are set to face a great Atalanta side in a wonderful period of form who are compact and everything is going their way. It’ll be difficult and we must give 100 per cent.”
The warning to Juve’s reserves was crystal clear, as their failure to impress in the Coppa Italia means they have little chance of breaking into the starting XI for Serie A.
They are the only giants not to have any European commitments this term, so in theory they should have put far more effort into the Coppa.
Tiago is said to be the one most at risk of a January transfer, as the £10m summer signing is wanted on loan by Paris Saint-Germain.
“I did not speak about Tiago, I was referring to the whole squad. There were another 10 players out there with him,” assured the tactician.
However, Ranieri lost patience when pressed repeatedly on Tiago’s future by journalists in today’s Press conference.
“Have you seen where we are in the table? Do you think we got there by the grace of God? If the other players are in better shape, then I choose them. I would like to give everyone more chances, but a Coach must be practical and look at the team.”
While the Turin outfit try to band together for the Atalanta game, they fall behind top two Inter and Roma.
“They have not run away with the title. We have to put our foot down and cannot afford to relax. We must stay humble, concentrated and hunger. It is only by playing like that, and hoping the others make mistakes, we can stay close by. I am always positive!”
Zdenek Grygera and Mauro Camoranesi are out injured for the Sunday afternoon game, which will be live on Five.
There will be a minute’s silence ahead of Juventus-Atalanta after two people died in a fire at the ThyssenGrupp AG steel mill in Turin.
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At least he didn't put the blame on 1 player.
only 
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