Chiellini: Stop Blasting Ranieri
Juventus defensive stalwart Giorgio Chiellini feels that pointing the finger at coach Claudio Ranieri is unsettling the side and insists all the team are fully behind him.
Oct 5, 2008 1:13:25 PM
Juventus take on Palermo at the Stadio Olimpico this afternoon in a must-win match that could well decide the future of Ranieri.
The Old Lady's start to the season was more than positive: a draw away at Fiorentina was followed up with back-to-back victories against Udinese and Cagliari, while an Alessandro Del Piero beauty of a free-kick settled the Champions League game with Zenit.
But the Bianconeri have not managed to come out on top in the last two Serie A games and were on the verge of capitulation at BATE Borisov until Sebastian Giovinco and Vincenzo Iaquinta came to the rescue.
The ex-Chelsea boss has come under-fire, with Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport on the front line. But Italian international Chiellini reckons that all this criticism is misplaced.
"Our relationship with the coach is fabulous," he told Radio 105 yesterday.
"We are all on the same boat and trying to move in the same direction. Unfortunately, we have not been able to accomplish what we wanted in some games, but no one thinks he needs to shoulder the blame or even be kicked out.
"And that goes for Alessandro Del Piero too. I have heard some whispers about him, but I want to remind everyone that he put in a solid performance against BATE and went close to scoring. Plus he got us the three points with Zenit. He cannot be the scapegoat!" roared Chiellini.
"The thing is we could fully focus on the championship last term, whereas we play every three days this season and we need to adapt."
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