Coach Ranieri before Cagliari-Juventus
Two days before the Unipol Domus match between Cagliari and Juventus, coach Ranieri answered questions from the media in the usual pre-match press conference. Below are his words:
THE RIGHT BALANCE
“I told the guys that they are doing well, but we have new pitfalls ahead of us. The team is focused, we have to keep the right balance. We have to keep pushing without fear, the salvation fight is very tight. There are no foregone conclusions, you go out there and fight. However, I saw the boys give everything in training even when the results were negative, I always said that. The second round is tough and a united group in the last few days can make the difference”.
CHOICES
“During training I see how the players move, I know them too well not to know what they can or cannot give me. By studying the opponents I try to match them, then I can make mistakes, but it’s important to make as few mistakes as possible. I want the boys to challenge me in their choices, they know they have to give everything. Against Inter Jankto wasn’t replaced because he was playing badly, but only because I needed a player to do a different job. I spoke to him and he understood very well”.
FIGHT ON EVERY BALL
“Juventus is a team that knows its business, as does the coach. They are a team that knows how to find the way to the net, they defend like no one else in Europe: they are the team that makes all their opponents touch the ball less in the penalty area. They are particularly effective on the counter-attack, their strength lies in the counter-attacks and on set-pieces, where they are deadly. We will have to play a game of great attention and concentration, with the desire to fight on every ball”.
INDIVIDUALS
“Mina is becoming indispensable because he gives security to the whole team: he is well, but there will be two days less for him to recover. After Inter I congratulated Luvumbo, I showed him what he did well and what he did wrong, he is a guy who creates superiority, he is beginning to be feared. Shomurodov arrived a little demoralised here at Cagliari, he had come from two complicated seasons and perhaps had let himself go a little. Then he realised that if he wanted to play with me he had to give 100 per cent, now let’s see the real Shomurodov”.
