Ranieri still hopeful of denying Inter
Source: Agencies |
May 11, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
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AS Roma coach Claudio Ranieri described Italian Serie A leader Inter Milan as 'stratospheric' on Sunday but he has still not given up hope of snatching an unlikely title from boss Jose Mourinho's pocket.
Acid-tongued Mourinho might have accused bitter rival Ranieri of having his head in the clouds had the Portuguese not snubbed the media again.
Possibly facing league action for joking last week that Roma would pay relegated Siena to beat Inter in the final game of the season this weekend, Mourinho decided to resume his press blackout after his side overcame Chievo 4-3.
It was left to Ranieri to do the talking after Francesco Totti scored twice in a 2-1 comeback win over Cagliari which sent the Serie A title race into Sunday's final round.
Champions League finalist Inter has a two-point lead over Roma, which visits Chievo in its season finale. "We've got to keep going right until the end as we are up against a stratospheric opponent," Ranieri told Sky TV.
The coach also praised captain Totti, who was sent off for a wild kick at Mario Balotelli in last Wednesday's Italian Cup final defeat to Inter and could be left out of Italy's preliminary World Cup squad today according to reports.
"It was the right reaction, what I hoped for," Ranieri said of Totti, who was mulling ending his international retirement.
"I said to him 'make the fans enjoy it and make them talk about you for what you are able to do on the pitch'."
While Ranieri dreams of a shock scudetto, his former side Juventus was plumbing new depths on Sunday.
The Turin club, which surprisingly axed Ranieri towards the end of last season when it was in third place, is languishing in seventh spot after a 2-3 home defeat by Parma.
A hefty fine or even a stadium ban could now hit Juventus after the game was suspended for a short time because disillusioned home fans were throwing firecrackers at the away section.
Despite being down in seventh, a Europa League qualifying berth is assured for Juventus as media reports continue to link it with Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez.
Acid-tongued Mourinho might have accused bitter rival Ranieri of having his head in the clouds had the Portuguese not snubbed the media again.
Possibly facing league action for joking last week that Roma would pay relegated Siena to beat Inter in the final game of the season this weekend, Mourinho decided to resume his press blackout after his side overcame Chievo 4-3.
It was left to Ranieri to do the talking after Francesco Totti scored twice in a 2-1 comeback win over Cagliari which sent the Serie A title race into Sunday's final round.
Champions League finalist Inter has a two-point lead over Roma, which visits Chievo in its season finale. "We've got to keep going right until the end as we are up against a stratospheric opponent," Ranieri told Sky TV.
The coach also praised captain Totti, who was sent off for a wild kick at Mario Balotelli in last Wednesday's Italian Cup final defeat to Inter and could be left out of Italy's preliminary World Cup squad today according to reports.
"It was the right reaction, what I hoped for," Ranieri said of Totti, who was mulling ending his international retirement.
"I said to him 'make the fans enjoy it and make them talk about you for what you are able to do on the pitch'."
While Ranieri dreams of a shock scudetto, his former side Juventus was plumbing new depths on Sunday.
The Turin club, which surprisingly axed Ranieri towards the end of last season when it was in third place, is languishing in seventh spot after a 2-3 home defeat by Parma.
A hefty fine or even a stadium ban could now hit Juventus after the game was suspended for a short time because disillusioned home fans were throwing firecrackers at the away section.
Despite being down in seventh, a Europa League qualifying berth is assured for Juventus as media reports continue to link it with Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez.
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