Ranieri plays down crisis talks

Claudio Ranieri has denied Juventus are facing a crisis despite Sunday’s home defeat to Fiorentina.

The 3-2 loss marked Juve’s second slip in three games and saw their advantage over fourth-placed Fiorentina cut to just one point with 12 matches remaining.

Ranieri said: “There are games where the team is not able to play at its best.

“Against Fiorentina we started badly, we then recovered and we managed to take control of the game.

“I’m very disappointed with the result but we have been naive and a bit unlucky when conceding those goals.”

Juve have also seen their hopes of catching second-placed Roma fade away, with the Giallorossi now seven points clear of the Bianconeri.

He said: “I wasn’t ecstatic before nor am I deflated now.

“We still have a one-point advantage on Fiorentina and now I want to see the reaction of my team after these three games where we have taken just one point.”

Juve take on Genoa at the Luigi Ferraris stadium next weekend.