Ranieri Hands Out His First Smackdown of the Season

By: Martha | July 17th, 2007

Remember how, about 24 hours after he arrived at Parma, Claudio Ranieri unleashed an awesome, George Bush-esque “If you’re not with us, you’re against us!” and “This is WAR!” rant which, though it clearly inspired the team to safety also required an apology shortly thereafter? Well, he’s fired up again, this time at one of his own players.

You see, Juve defender and Azzurrini captain Giorgio Chiellini went to the press yesterday with his dissatisfaction at how the club have treated him — he wants a guaranteed starting spot as well as “equal treatment” with the team’s stars. Um … ok, you little punk. If he doesn’t get it, Chiellini is already passive-aggressively threatening not to renew his contract (which expires in 2011). I can’t imagine why, but this has the gaffer just a little bit upset, and he’s talking about violence again:

“I believe the unity of the group is sacred and with his words the player damaged it. I can understand his concerns, but these things must remain in the family. He acted hastily … Alessandro Del Piero must be a role-model. If Chiellini, who has not won a World Cup, is disappointed what should Alex say? What will happen if Chiellini wins something, will he kill us?”

Ha! Haaa! All of you who have been resisting the Tinkerman, give in now. He’s going to be one of the best sources of entertainment in Serie A next season, no matter what happens with Juve. (Oh, and Giorgio? Have fun trying to talk your way out of the dog house for this one.)

Category: Juventus, Serie A

Tags: Juventus, Serie A

« Canna Calling Juve? Please. | Home | The Wrath of Khan Fra »

Subscribe   The Offside RSS Feeds

Print

Share

Comments  

• Sofia |  July 17th, 2007 at 10:14 am

  
  
  

  hahhaha i love this guy!! thank you juve management for bringing him here! this guy is hilarious and from what i can tell a great coach. but we will see as tomorrow juve have hteir first friendly math against some C2 side. ranieri said that he will not field his starting 11 and del piero will not play as he is still nursing an injury.

  Posted from Canada

  

• Francesco |  July 17th, 2007 at 11:19 am

  
  
  

  well, looks like Chiellini is gone.

  Posted from United States

  

• Mike |  July 17th, 2007 at 11:44 am

  
  
  

  I can picture today’s 7am scolding of Chiellini: a beautiful sunny morning, with the entire team and staff fast asleep except for Giorgio, who’s running laps around the pitch as he listens to Claudio drawling over a bull horn “What we have here, is a failure to communicate…”

  Back to our good old ways. I’m happy that Claudio cracked the whip on Giorgio’s backside, exemplifying his “Now, I can be a good guy, or I can be one real mean sum-bitch” attitude.

  Expect this incident to be the last time any player says anything negative about the team to the press, and wait for Camoranesi’s “I fell down some stairs” explanation when he’s sporting a Ranieri-sized black eye in the near future.

  Posted from United States

  

• Gianfranco |  July 17th, 2007 at 12:37 pm

  
  
  

  The scariest thing about Juve this year is that this man is in charge…he is flat out a good coach and entertaining to boot. Any success Juve has this year is truly a testament to the Tinkerman.

  Posted from United States

  

• chris g |  July 17th, 2007 at 2:05 pm

  
  
  

  Juve have depth but I still don’t see them dominating Serie A, Tinkerman or not.

  Martha - For the record:

  Toronto Argonauts - 53% Canadian

  Inter - 12% Italian (16% if you count Francesco Coco)

  Posted from United States

  

• Jina |  July 17th, 2007 at 6:32 pm

  
  
  

  “I can understand his concerns, but these things must remain in the family.”

  very Godfather-like wouldn’t you say Martha.

  kay I’m liking the guy can’t wait to see what he does with Juve this season.

  Posted from United States

  

• Martha |  July 17th, 2007 at 6:47 pm

  
  
  

  Yes, Chris, but THE ARGOS ARE NOT PLAYING IN THE LEAGUE IN WHICH THE SUPER BOWL IS HANDED OUT. That was your greater flaw.

  Posted from Portugal

  

• Martha |  July 17th, 2007 at 6:49 pm

  
  
  

  Mike, the idea of Ranieri kicking Camo’s ass is beyond pleasing to me. I will now spend the entire season waiting for the day he “falls down the stairs.” Brilliant.

  Jina, Ranieri is like a very jolly Godfather, which makes him even more lethal. It’s terrifying how hard he makes it to hate Juve.

  Posted from Portugal

  

• chris g |  July 17th, 2007 at 8:02 pm

  
  
  

  You get the point.

  Stop trying to defend your nerazzurri-ness.

  Posted from United States

  

• k |  July 18th, 2007 at 2:28 am

  
  
  

  this guy is freaking awesome… i dont think ill ever forget his “horse-race” metaphor for parma’s relegation battle… his randomness will be legendary!

  Posted from United Arab Emirates

  

• Sofia |  July 18th, 2007 at 4:30 am

  
  
  

  haha martha you probably have but if you havent try to watch when they are doing a press conference on tv because the way he says things is hilarious. he is soo over dramatic about everything!! i was watching him in a press conference yesterday and i was laughing the entire time! hhaha

  Posted from Canada

  

Comments are closed