Ranieri: duel won’t be decisive

AC MILAN and Juventus have been trying to play down the significance of their must-win clash at Turin’s Stadio Olimpico tomorrow (7.30pm).

Both sides sit six points behind champions and runaway Serie A leaders Inter Milan, who face the seemingly straight-forward task of a home match against rock-bottom Chievo.

Should Jose Mourinho’s star-studded team win that match, a draw or defeat for either Milan or Juve would leave them eight or nine points off the pace — a daunting prospect for any team with title aspirations.

But both Juve and Milan have been trying to calm expectations ahead of Sunday night.

“It’s a great challenge but it’s not a final (an all or nothing match),” insisted Juve coach Claudio Ranieri. “When there are great players on the field a spectacle is assured. Ronaldinho, (Alessandro) Del Piero... they can do things that are unique and impossible to recreate.

“I’m lucky because I’ll be on the bench, in the front row and I don’t even have to pay for my ticket! It’s a big match between two teams that have brought glory to Italian and world football. There’s a lot riding on it but it won’t be decisive.

“Of course if we win we can remain not too far off Inter but I’m convinced there’ll be a few twists and turns yet (in the title race).”

AC Milan’s veteran centre-back Paolo Maldini also believes that a defeat would not be the end of the world for either team.

“I believe that both teams, regardless of the result on Sunday, will be able to catch Inter,” he said. “We’re not trying to challenge them we’re both already challengers to Inter.”

Meanwhile Inter have vehemently denied reports in the Italian press that Brazilian striker Adriano turned up at training yesterday under the influence of alcohol.

The Italian media had reported that Adriano was sent home by Mourinho after turning up on time but in no condition to train.

But a club statement read: “Regarding the issues reported in certain newspapers today, Inter Milan wishes to clarify that yesterday while training was taking place after the (team’s) day off, Adriano was undergoing tests by the club’s medical staff for a thigh injury sustained in the first half of the game at Werder Bremen.”

Adriano, 26, was left out of the team for five games earlier this season after a disagreement with Mourinho.

Last season, he spent six months on loan at Sao Paulo after suffering from personal problems. The South American star is set to miss Sunday’s game against Chievo.