Ranieri Talk

Ranieri 'bitter' at ref treatment
Saturday 23 February, 2008

Claudio Ranieri was visibly angry and “bitter” after a disastrous refereeing performance, suggesting Juventus are still paying for the Calciopoli scandal.

“I do not comment on penalties given or not given to us or other teams. One needs to analyze the entire 90 minutes and what happened in them.

“With that in mind, we are all very bitter at this defeat. It wasn’t the penalty incidents, it was the whole refereeing approach we didn’t like.”

The Bianconeri lost 2-1 at the Granillo to Reggina with a stoppage-time penalty, but before that Juve had four potential spot-kicks rejected, including a clear foul on Momo Sissoko.

“It all comes together and the major incidents are just the tip of the iceberg. We played a great game and pinned Reggina back into their own half during the second half, but we lost and must leave it there,” added Ranieri, who was evidently holding his tongue.

“We can’t talk after this game, we really can’t. The three or four penalties have to be seen as part of the overall night. I will not stand here and give my view on whether it was a spot-kick or not.

“The lads are very upset, as they ran so hard and worked so much. We knew it was going to be tough this year and we just have to keep going through it all.

“We managed to equalise and always play to win, but we didn’t manage it and lost, so we cannot say anything more.”

These comments suggest Ranieri thought it was similar to Juve’s complaints after the 3-1 loss to Napoli earlier this season.

After that game at the San Paolo, the club protested that they were still being made to pay for the Calciopoli scandal. Ranieri was asked if he felt they were back in that situation?

“You’re very perspicacious…” was his only response.

“Referees make mistakes. If my players make a mistake, I talk to them and try to sort them out. I hope Pierluigi Collina will do the same with his referees.”

Sissoko had his first Serie A start in a Juventus shirt, though it was his clumsy overhead kick clearance that handed Reggina their winning penalty.

“Sissoko immediately settled into the squad and feels in good shape. We signed this player because Liverpool play in a similar style to us with two defensive midfielders in front of the back line. I am satisfied with Sissoko’s performance.”

The Coach also explained why injuries had forced a change of tactics, as David Trezeguet and Vincenzo Iaquinta were ruled out.

“We didn’t have Trezeguet or Iaquinta, so I asked to play ball to feet rather than cross into the box. We were certainly missing that figure in the team, but Ale Del Piero and Raffaele Palladino tried to follow my instructions even against a Reggina side clammed up in their own half.”

Reggina Coach Renzo Ulivieri also refused to comment on the controversial penalty incidents.

“The result may well be harsh on Juve, considering how they played and how many chances they had. But my team battled hard, defended well – as they had to – and took home an important result.

“I saw the penalty incident and do not know whether it was a foul or not, but one cannot reason over where the ball was and who the player was looking at. That changes the rules.”

Ulivieri’s job was saved by this victory, as the Amaranto were ready to fire him following four straight defeats.

“I never asked the team to play for their Coach. They must play for themselves, this club and the fans. I have a good rapport with the players and hope they feel the same way about me.

“At the end of the day a tactician is always alone with his thoughts. Four defeats on the trot are a lot, even if they were against the likes of Milan and Roma, but this was a very hard-fought victory.”

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