Ranieri: Roll up, roll up! Sunday 2 September, 2007
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Claudio Ranieri wants to see a Juventus side so exciting against Cagliari that “we can be used as an advertisement for football.”
It could be argued the Bianconeri already achieved that with their 5-1 drubbing of Livorno in Week 1, but the task now is to prove they can challenge away from home as well.
“We still need to improve,” said the Coach. “We are under construction at the moment with a new squad, a new tactician and I cannot even say how long it will take to reach the full potential of this side. I can only say we still have to do better. I’m not happy yet and the players know that.”
The main problems have been in defence, where newcomers Jorge Andrade, Domenico Criscito and Hasan Salihamidzic have struggled to settle in to Serie A football.
There are also midfield question marks over Tiago Mendes, so far the most disappointing of the summer signings in Turin.
“We are winning, but winning is not everything. I want to see an intense, fast-paced match that is a 90-minute advertisement for football. There, we have to become an advert for the game.”
Vincenzo Iaquinta dropped out of this trip to Sardinia due to a stomach bug, joining Marco Marchionni, Alessandro Birindelli and Zdenek Grygera on the sidelines.
“It will be an important test against a Cagliari side that won its first two official games in Serie A and the Coppa Italia. They are buoyed by the enthusiasm of this start and will have a packed stadium. They already gave Napoli a shock, so we must be very careful too.”
Alessandro Del Piero missed the midweek Coppa Italia win at Parma, but is back to partner David Trezeguet, even if the Italian is at the centre of tense contract renegotiations.
“Alex is very intelligent and that is a valuable asset for those who become champions,” noted Ranieri.
“I expect a great deal from him, not only on the field, but also as a captain, soul and symbol of this side. He must set an example for others to follow. I don’t think the contract issue is troubling him at all, he seems very relaxed.”
Trezeguet netted a hat-trick in his first Serie A game for over a year and earned a recall to the France squad for their Euro 2008 qualifier against Italy.
“As an Italy supporter, it worries me to see him there, as it means Raymond Domenech wants to win this game. If I were in charge David would be in the starting XI, but thankfully I am not Domenech…”
-Channel 4
Great words of Ranieri,especially the Domenech part:toast: