Stuttgart training
Well the Stuttgart players have been training hard and working on those areas which Ranieri feels needs improvement after watching the friendly game against Holstein Kiel.
The Goalkeepers are having a heavy schedule, especially Timo Hildebrand.
The defenders are also having to train and practice extremely hard. Ranieri wants his defenders to go out a lot more and block the players from taking shots on goal. He is also stressing the important of out-muscling the opposition players, and using them to get throw-ins and goal-kicks in your favour.
John Dahl Tomasson trying a few tricks
In midfield and upfront, he has been trying out different formations. He seems to be happy with having two strikers, one of which is surely going to be John Dahl Tomasson.
But Ranieri is also confident that the other strikers and midfielders will do well, and score goals themselves as well.
"Although Tomasson is our main source of goals, he definately isnt our only source. As we saw against Kiel, Carevic has a great ability to score and create goals. Cacau, Gomes, Gonzalez and Streller can score goals as well." Ranieri discussed with his coaches.
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In the meantime......we have some breaking news
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Inter Milan dismiss Materazzi interest
Inter Milan have dismissed interest from clubs over their defender Marco Materazzi, stating that the player is not for sale.
"Marco is an important player to us and we will not lose him." said Sporting Director Lele Oriali.
It is believed that German side Stuttgart, now coached by Italian Claudio Ranieri, had tabled a bid of around ?1.5M for the Inter Milan defender.
Manchester United and Juventus have also bid for Materrazzi.
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Both Ranieri and Brehme, who were at the training ground, received calls from the Director of Football, Jochen Schneider, who asks them to come meet him in his office.
At Schneider's office:
Schneider:
"Well the news is that Inter Milan are not ready to sell Materazzi to anyone. But I have got a confidential fax from them stating that they could consider our offer, but we would have increase it to atleast around ?2.3M."
Ranieri:
"Request for ?1.8M, and if we get him for ?2M or less I think we should accept."
Brehme: "Any updates on Friedrich?"
Schneider:
"No, nothing yet. I think what I'll do, is submit a new bid of ?1.8M to Inter, and at the same time wait on the response from Mainz for Friedrich. Which ever deal turns out to be better, we'll go ahead with that. But then I must warn you that neither of these players can taken for granted, as we do have to reach an agreement with the players themselves after the clubs agree on the fee."
Ranieri:
"Yes and that is the tough part. Anyways thank you for the update Mr. Schneider, and lets hope for the best."
Schneider:
"Your welcome, Sir. And we will try our level best to get you a good central defender. Just one thing, though this is supposed to be confidential, as Inter do not want the player to get affected."
Ranieri:
"Do not worry, we will not tell this to anyone."
So some positives coming out from that. Materazzi might be after all coming to Stuttgart.
Ranieri and Brehme returned to the training ground and continued preparations for the second friendly game, against FC Mendrisio in Switzerland.