Ranieri Talk about match vs Napoli

Ranieri couldn't be happier
Sunday 16 March, 2008

Claudio Ranieri berated the media for writing there is dissent in the Juventus ranks. “What more could a Coach want?”

The tactician has been under fire this week amid reports the club will fire him if he doesn’t at least achieve third place in Serie A – which looks increasingly solid after tonight’s 2-1 win over Napoli.

“I have an excellent rapport with the club and the players. There are some in the media who want to build stories on thin air, but the side immediately stood behind me.

“How can I be tense or irritable when the squad is having such a great season? What more could a Coach want? There is a fantastic rapport with everyone here and all I try to do is my job.”

It took until the 88th minute to see off Napoli after a game where the absence of the suspended Mauro Camoranesi, Jonathan Zebina, Nicola Legrottaglie and injured Cristiano Zanetti was sorely felt.

“One must always deal with the shape individual players are in when picking the team and the system. I think I made the right choices. Tiago Mendes played a great game and I think in the end we deserved the win.”

Edy Reja was disappointed to emerge from the Olimpico empty-handed after hanging on for so long and wasting good chances with Gyorgy Garics and Marek Hamsik.

“We obviously have regrets over the late goal. It’s a shame, as the lads fought for every ball tonight and deserved better luck,” said the Napoli boss.

*channel4