Juventus could be the team that stops Inter Milan making another march towards the Serie A title, Juve coach Claudio Ranieri said Monday.
''We want to be the main alternative to Inter, and that's why we won't ever give up,'' the coach told Italian radio after going joint second, six behind leaders Inter, because of AC Milan's 3-1 defeat at Palermo.
Asked about the first big split at the top of the table after Inter's 2-1 win over Napoli, Ranieri said: ''I hope the championship is still open''.
As for his own team, who beat Reggina 4-0 Saturday night, the night before), Ranieri ''Juventus is doing very well, we've recovered from a shaky start and we're progressing at home and abroad''.
The Juve coach, who was heavily criticised at the start of the season, said what hurt him most was ''false'' criticism.
In other comments to Monday morning sport show Radio Anch'Io Lo Sport, on the state broadcaster RAI, Ranieri said Alessandro Del Piero deserved an Italy recall and he, Ranieri, would one day like to coach a foreign club.
He said he had had offers in the past but ''they were teams that didn't interest me''.
Here's how the top of the table looks: Inter 33 Juventus, Milan 27 Napoli 24 Lazio, Fiorentina 23
Roma is up to 17 points, after their dismal start, thanks to a 1-0 win over Fiorentina.
