Blanc: «Zaccheroni: a guarantee of experience»

«Allow me to thank Ciro Ferrara, a man who esteem very much both from a professional and human point of view. Football is cruel and sometimes it leads to painful decisions. Ciro is still part of Juventus and we will study with him, serenely, in the coming weeks, how to proceed with our work together». Juventus President Jean-Claude Blanc, presenting new Juventus coach Alberto Zaccheroni, did not forget to thank the coach that led the team up to this moment. One must look ahead however and thus the choice of Zaccheroni: «shared by the sports structure of the club, the board of management and the proprietors – continued Blanc -. It guarantees us experience at maximum levels with Italian teams, which is necessary in this difficult moment».

The decision to lift Ferrara of his role was not dictated by emotion: «We have been thinking of it lately and having been eliminated from the Coppa Italia was determinant. We have been going through sporting difficulties for the last two months and a month ago I asked Roberto Bettega to return to the club to help me come out of this situation. We tried with Ciro and his staff, but after so many matches without a victory, being concrete persons who must take decisions, we took this decision».

Answering those who asked him whether he ever though of resigning, Blanc responded without hesitation: «I never thought of resigning. The responsibility cannot be of just one man and errors were made by the whole “chain”, which includes me and the players. Football does not permit you to change 25 players but gives you the opportunity to give a charge to the environment by changing the staff. We tried to put the players before their responsibility this week and it is what we have done even with this decision. We expect a professional behaviour on and off the field. We must turn round this situation. We have the technical quality and half a season to do so».

With regards to the contract signed by Zacceroni, which binds him to Juventus until the end of the season, deputy director general Roberto Bettega explained: «We have reached an agreement for this period of time but have substantially agreed on an option for Juventus for the next season».
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