Ranieri wants more than Amauri

Ranieri wants more than Amauri
Tuesday 6 May, 2008

Claudio Ranieri has warned that Juventus need widespread reinforcement if they are to be a force at home and in Europe next term.

The Old Lady have enjoyed a miraculous season after returning from a period in the wilderness of Serie B.

Ranieri has guided the Old Lady back to the Champions League, but he believes it is a big step to make a challenge for European domination.

“We are in Europe’s biggest tournament, which is a prestigious achievement for a side that has just come from Serie B,” he said in La Stampa.

“Now, however, we can’t expect to see a Juve side perform like they last did in the Champions League because we are expecting a year of growth. Many of the lads don’t know what the climate is like at that level.

“Furthermore, this year we have made the most of the advantage of only having to play one game per week. Next year will be a new challenge at having double the workload.”

Palermo striking star Amauri is set to be Juve’s first signing of the summer, but Ranieri hopes he is the first of several big-name additions.

“Amauri is a great player and he could be an extra champion in the dressing room, but we aren’t a Scudetto chasing squad yet,” he admitted.

“I need two alternatives for every role and two or three emergency players. We have to improve in terms of strength and depth.”

Juve now can’t catch Roma for second place and know that they will have to come through the Champions League preliminary stages, which may pose some selection headaches.

“The Olympics will be played at the same time as the Champions League preliminaries,” Ranieri explained as he concluded his interview.

“I don’t know how many of our players Pierluigi Casiraghi will choose, but I need them.”

*channel4