Italian football giants Juventus left Malta yesterday evening on a short trip to Catania in nearby Sicily to start final preparations for today’s Serie A match against Catania.
Coach Claudio Ranieri yesterday addressed a news conference at the Le Meridien Hotel in St Julian’s where he expressed his thanks to all – Renaissance Productions, the hotel management and staff and not least the Juventus fans – for giving them such a warm welcome.
“This has been a memorable training camp. It was a relaxing week for the players. We worked very well with the warm climate making it easier for us. It was a week which filled us all with great enthusiasm, especially after seeing the fans so close to us. It was definitely a great welcome which we will never forget,” he stated.
Asked whether Juventus were prepared to challenge for and win the Italian title after this stay in Malta, Ranieri said Juventus were trying to win the title. “There are other strong teams like Inter and Roma, not to mention Milan and Fiorentina. What is important is that we are trying to do it. It is an honour for me to be leading such a world-renowned side. Although we cannot guarantee anything, I promise all the fans that we will be doing everything possible in the second round to win the title,” he exclaimed.
Ranieri said the club was doing well before the break with three successive wins. “Now we have to start afresh and I think we are ready to take the plunge, despite the hiccup against Valletta on Wednesday. Valletta were a good sparring partner. They showed a good level of football, were well organised, showed continuity and personality and even gave us some anxious moments, apart from scoring their goal. But it is true that I was not happy that we lost, even on penalties, though I would be happier to win the matches that really count. It is a fact that we always have to produce our best.
“It is not easy to be impressive every time even with a squad of champions as that which I possess at Juventus. We always have to think positively and of obtaining the best results possible,” he added.
Ranieri is of the opinion that Italian football is doing quite well on the world stage. “I think Italy will also do well in this summer’s Euro 2008 finals. We are the world champions and we are also champions at club level. There are good Italian teams who can clinch the Champions League again. This all shows that Italian football is cruising at a very prestigious level throughout the world,” he said.
The Juve coach went on to say that he thinks Inter have an edge over every other squad at present in Italy. “They have a very impressive and long squad and are very strong,” he claimed.
Asked whether it was true that Juventus were very close to signing Liverpool midfielder Sissoko, Ranieri just said that he was happy with the players in his squad. “But it is nice to hear that several players, among them Sissoko whom I know quite well, all wish to join Juventus,” he stated.