Ranieri: «We mustn't relax»

Ranieri: «We mustn't relax»

Juve - who, claims Ranieri, will keep fighting to achieve the highest possible position - could be close to an important milestone. After winning Saturday against AC Milan, if they beat Parma too they could practically book a place in the next Champions League.

It's one of those crucial moments and the Manager is telling everybody so since before the game against the Rossoneri. It was obvious he'd repeat it hours before the match against Parma too: «This is a decisive week for us; that's why we absolutely mustn't relax. I want to see the same spirit showed in the last few games, continuing what we've always done, i.e. being concentrated and playing to win. We have to strike the iron while it’s hot».

Juve arrive at Wednesday’s game galvanized by the important win on Saturday. Three points that have given even more enthusiasm to the squad: this could be an added weapon to use against the Gialloblu, in a game that has many hidden dangers, as Ranieri knows all too well: «It's harder when you face teams that are fighting to avoid relegation. We've often had problems in these games, especially in opening the score, because once we’ve scored the first, our opponents are forced to come forward and open up at the back. In theory, we should be facing a team that don't play defensively, but every match is different and everything can change from one half to the other too. We'll play a Parma side that don't deserve their position in the League; they have fewer points than they merit, considering the names of the players in their squad too».

The match is made even tougher by some players missing: Zanetti, Sissoko, and at the last minute Iaquinta too. Nedved however will be back. «It won't be easy playing without our two central midfielders at the same time – the Manager concluded – but in any case the team have always risen to the occasion when we've had problems like this and it'll be the same this time too, thanks to the focus and self-sacrifice of those that’ll play in those positions. I'm sorry about Iaquinta because he's an important player for us. Nedved is better, he practiced headers yesterday too, which means he must've recovered in full».

*juventus.com