Juve were in excellent form in Saturday´s 4-0 win against Reggina and Ranieri, whose team lie six points behind Serie A leaders Inter, is confident they can close the gap to the top of the table.

"We want to improve on our third-placed finish last season," he said. "Juve will not give up a millimetre in the race for the Scudetto.

"We want to be the alternative to Inter."

Inter won their fifth consecutive game yesterday - 2-1 over Napoli - and have lost only once in Serie A this season against AC Milan in September.

But although Ranieri has a lot of respect for the Nerazzurri, he is also pleased with his own team's improvement.

"We have to compliment Inter," Ranieri said. "Unlike Juve, AC Milan and Roma, they have a new coach (Jose Mourinho) this season and they have adapted well to the new coaching methods.

"They are growing and they have already pulled away but we have made a lot of progress too."