Ranieri wants Juve back at the top
Friday, July 4, 2008
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Juventus president Giampiero Boniperti turned 80 on Friday and Claudio Ranieri's side have begun summer training promising to give the club plenty to celebrate.
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Scudetto aim
Their two-year absence from European competition will end next month and coach Claudio Ranieri is keen to use that first tie as a springboard for a successful season. "Our first objective is to get through the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round," he said "But it is no secret that we are also thinking about the Scudetto. I do not think it is a taboo for us."
Settled in
When Ranieri replaced Didier Deschamp a year ago, many fans and critics were sceptical and even thought Marcello Lippi would have taken his place by the end of the season. Instead, newly-promoted Juve finished third in Serie A, Lippi is back in charge of the national team and Ranieri is proving popular with players and supporters. "Last summer we had to start from scratch, while now I know the players and they know me too," explained the 56-year-old. "We only have to help the newcomers to reach this level of knowledge."
Improvements
Those newcomers include striker Amauri, a €22.7m arrival from US Città di Palermo, defender Olof Mellberg and his fellow Swede, playmaker Albin Ekdal, versatile Croatian Dario Knežević and left-back Paolo De Ceglie. Ranieri knows that while third place was a good return last season, expectations are now higher at a club with 27 Scudettos to their name. "We need to make improvements compared to last year, everyone at Juventus has to be a high-flyer," the coach said. "I was ambitious last term and I am even more today. We cannot hide and we have to look for the best results in every competition we play."
Rivalry
Ranieri was, of course, replaced at Chelsea FC in 2004 by José Mourinho, who has now taken over at reigning champions FC Internazionale Milano. "His arrival in the Italian football is good news for me," Ranieri said. "But Inter will not be our only rivals for the Scudetto. I also fear AS Roma, AC Milan, [ACF] Fiorentina and the other teams who will play in the UEFA Cup [UC Sampdoria and Udinese Calcio]." And whereas Mourinho has tasted both UEFA Champions League and domestic league success in his career, Ranieri is yet to do so and is keen to correct that. "Working for Juventus means that you want to be the No1."
