Juventus captain Alessandro del Piero has denied a rift with coach Claudio Ranieri. Asked about the press reports following their defeat by Palermo yesterday, Del Piero said: "If we are going to talk about it, we must do so to our face, without fear, because things are solved only in this way.

"I have not noticed particular friction against me, and also because nobody has come to me to say such things. For me, it only counts when it comes face to face. For this I say that there is nothing.

"I do not know the background to the claims in that newspaper.

"Unity is a fundamental thing for the squad. For my part there is still no problem of commitment and desire to win."