Devilish Del Piero leading anti-Ranieri revolution
Wednesday 15 October 2008 14:00
The fans want him out, the press want him out and the players apparently want him out, but Claudio Ranieri is nothing but a battler.
The Juventus coach faces three games that will make or break his tenure in Turin.
On Saturday, the Bianconeri are in the bear-pit of the San Paolo Stadium to face Napoli, then the following Wednesday it’s Real Madrid at home in the Champions League.
The derby against Torino arrives the weekend after that, so no pressure then.
Ranieri: Wishing he had eyes in the back of his head
Two positive results from three and we can forget the names of Rafael Benitez, Roberto Donadoni, Cesare Prandelli and Frank Rijkaard for now, but otherwise it’s the long road for the likeable Roman.
Only last week, Tuttosport were screaming their “Ranieri out” headlines but now seemingly, as an act of party unity, the club mouth-piece claims that harmony has broken out in the dressing room.
“Peace between Alex-Ranieri,” ran Wednesday’s headline.
Here lies the crux of the problem and it's more than a hint that it’s little Alex Del Piero leading the coup d’etat.
With supposed revolution in the air and the little capo’s lieutenants, Mauro Camoranesi and Gianluigi Buffon throwing their weight behind an interim management team headed up by former players Ciro Ferrara and Antonio Conte, the wily old Ranieri has decided appeasement was the best way to head off mob rule.
Hence the “sit-down” at the club’s training complex where the grievances were thrashed out, no doubt in a darkened boot-room out the back.
Del Boy and Buffon plot their next rebellious move
What was actually said has yet to come to light, lost for the time being in the mist of diplomatic niceties.
However, while Ranieri maintained that both parties were on the same page, moving in the same direction and so forth, Del Piero hinted that all had not been well within the family.
“I want to win and you have to look people in the face and let them know that,” he said. “I am speaking for my team-mates and those on international duty.”
Another big wink and nudge to the fact that Del Boy isn’t on international duty but can the blame be laid squarely with Ranieri?
One goal from five appearances says it all and maybe the captain should take a look at how he is conducting himself – or maybe that’s his cunning plan to bring the “boss” down.
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About Richard Whittle
Despite the name,
Richard Whittle is so at home in Italy that some call him Riccardo Rossi. He has lived and worked in Italy for the last 15 years as a football journalist and works as Italian soccer commentator for the English-speaking world covering Serie A, Champions League, Europa League and Italian Cup matches as well as Italy internationals. With Paul Visca, Richard concocts the regular
Calcio & Coffee podcast.