Ranieri amazed by BATE

Ranieri amazed by BATE
Tuesday 30 September, 2008

Claudio Ranieri admits he was “surprised” by BATE Borisov, but that Juventus could've won after their nightmare start.

“We knew BATE would take this kind of approach, but they did surprise us with their pace, there's no point denying it. The strikers were moving constantly and the diagonal passes kept finding them,” he said after the fight back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 in Minsk.

“It was a nightmare 25 minutes and we did well not to give up. The side reacted brilliantly and the moment we managed to string a couple of passes together, we went into the area.

“Before that it was just impossible to move the ball around the way we usually do. We couldn't close them down anywhere on the pitch.”

Sebastian Giovinco was a surprise starter on the right side of midfield and he proved decisive, providing two assists for Vincenzo Iaquinta's goals.

“We wanted to clear Giovinco on the right flank because their full-back never pushed forward there, but BATE didn't give us time to think in midfield and we just couldn't get into the game. It's lucky we held on and reacted well to earn the point.

“Giovinco is doing his part this season, but we cannot ask for the moon immediately, even if he did put in two great assists. We need time to get to know him and he to know us.”

Juve risked an embarrassing defeat against the Belarus side and Ranieri insists he did his research.

“Tonight we were convinced BATE had quality and did not underestimate them, but there's no denying they did surprise us. They deserve praise, as they ran with the strength of 22 men rather than 11.

“The lads had got into the game by half-time, indeed after the first half hour. BATE surprised us and scored two goals in that period, but we emerged with determination, quality and intelligence to fight our way back into it.

“We did everything we could to win it and didn't manage by a small margin. It's a shame, as Real Madrid won away to Zenit and we wanted to catch them, but a point is better than nothing.”

The results put Juve in second place on four points behind Real Madrid's six in Group H.

“We are growing and that is the important thing. Of course playing against a side that ends its season in a month and is at peak fitness really tested us.”

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