Ferrara: It's me or Conte

Ferrara: It's me or Conte
Thursday 28 May, 2009

Ciro Ferrara admits he cannot say who will be on the Juventus bench next season, “but as far as I can tell it’s a battle between me and Antonio Conte.”

The former defender and current co-ordinator for the youth sector was appointed caretaker manager last week when Claudio Ranieri was fired.

He won his debut game 3-0 at Siena, securing their spot in the Champions League next season, but it remains to be seen whether he will keep the job permanently.

“I couldn’t tell you what my chances are of remaining the Juve Coach, but in reading the newspapers as far as I can tell it’s a battle between me and Conte,” said Ferrara on Juventus Channel.

“I think it’s around 50-50. When I took on this role, I did so with pleasure and the knowledge I could continue or not.

“I try to take it one day at a time and therefore have no difficulty in accepting the possibility a new Coach could arrive.”

There are reports that Ferrara could quit the club if he is not given the job permanently, leaving his duties with the youth sector.

“That is not true, I have another year of my contract as the co-ordinator of the youth academy. Clearly I would like to be a Coach, but I have not yet decided if I will leave Juve.”

Ferrara and current Bari boss Conte were teammates in the successful Bianconeri side of the 1990s and President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli hinted it was indeed a decision between these two men.

“For the moment we are leaning towards young Coaches, unless of course something remarkable emerges next week.”

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