Ranieri slams Trezeguet for complaining

(GETTY IMAGES)

Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri lambasted striker David Trezeguet today for complaining about being substituted in Tuesday's Champions League elimination by Chelsea.

The French forward told French daily L'Equipe on Thursday that he was upset at being taken off when Juve needed goals in the last 16 second leg in Turin. The game ended 2-2 with Chelsea progressing 3-2 on aggregate.

"He has disappointed me as a man," Ranieri told a news conference.

"He should not complain in the newspapers. We have not talked, clearly he doesn't have consideration for me. I make mistakes but I had reasons (for the substitution)."

Trezeguet, who has fallen out with France coach Raymond Domenech, was close to leaving Juve when they won promotion back to Serie A two years ago after their 2006 match-fixing demotion.

He made a crude gesture to the director's box on that occasion after saying he felt unloved by the club but he ended up staying.

Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli backed Ranieri's response but said the striker would be staying at the club.

Trezeguet, 31, has only just returned to action after five months out with a knee problem but misses Saturday's Serie A home game with Bologna with a leg muscle injury.