Serie A - Ranieri in a quandry as Inter eye title

Eurosport - Thu, 07 May 11:01:00 2009

Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri has a catch-22 situation on Sunday - beat Milan and possibly hand rivals Internazionale the title, or lose at the San Siro and leave his job on the line.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Serie A Juventus Ranieri - 0

The demanding Juve fans, who despise Inter more than any team, will be furious either way and can only hope Inter waste a possible opportunity by failing to win at Chievo.

But if Jose Mourinho's side grab a victory in Verona, defeat for second-placed Milan in the late game will make Inter champions as they will be 10 points clear with three games left.

Media have speculated that Ranieri will be sacked at the end of the season whatever happens on Sunday after Juve failed to win their last five league games and dropped out of the title race.

Reports have said there was a dressing room mutiny at hal-ftime of last weekend's 2-2 home draw with lowly Lecce but club chief executive Jean Claude Blanc has tried to take the sting out of the situation.

"It is normal when matches go wrong and top players do not manage to give their maximum, they feel frustrated and there can be moments of tension, which are down to the will to do well and give more," he told Sky.

Pavel Nedved, expected to retire at the end of the season, is banned from Sunday's game alongside defender Olof Mellberg while the match will be Milan captain Paolo Maldini's last against Juve before he retires at the end of May.

Juve are already planning for next season with media reports saying they have all but signed Werder Bremen playmaker Diego.

Inter, seemingly assured of a fourth straight scudetto for weeks, have also started thinking ahead with the future of top striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic the key issue.

The club have a chance on Sunday to find out what it would be like without the Swede, who is suspended.

Fourth-bottom Torino host third-bottom Bologna on Sunday in the big relegation clash.

Reuters

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  1. well malcolm c, you could not have been more wrong,a­ GREAT match! but lay off ranieri,these things happen to­ ALL teams from time to time, look at arsenal in england­ for example, but you dont hear arsenal fans howling for­ wenger to resign. ranieri was treated abysmally at­ chelski, lets show the guy that juventus fans have more­ heart.

    From kenny f, on Sun 10 May 11:55PM
  2. As a Juve fan, tis isn't going to be much of a­ match, Milan will win be a landslide. F K ranieri

    From Malcolm C, on Fri 8 May 8:18AM
  3. this is milan opportunity to win this­ match..............
    FORZA­ MILANNNNNN.............................................­ ..

    From D, on Thu 7 May 1:36PM
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