Ranieri: “We could have done better”

Claudio Ranieri admitted that his side were unable to get their game together against Juventus. The Blucerchiati were in with a shout until Aaron Ramsey scored the visitors’ second in injury time but ultimately didn’t create enough to ask serious questions of the champions.

“We lost too many balls playing out from the back,” the coach began. “Juve’s best chances came after we gave the ball away and I think that maybe got us a bit worked up as our play wasn’t as fluid as it should have been.

“It’s a shame because we kept fighting. We wanted to be quick on the counter but weren’t able to do what we’d planned. We only really had that one shot with [Fabio] Quagliarella – we should have troubled them more. It wasn’t the sort of game we set out to play.

“We needed to show a bit more determination against such a great side. We upped our game a little in the second half, when we pressed them better and won the ball more but didn’t have any really good chances. It’s a pity because we were still in it right at the end. Credit to them but we didn’t do badly. We kept fighting till the end and when we do that I’m happy.

“We’re at Benevento next weekend and that will be another battle. We have to be really up for that one.”