Sacked Juventus coach Luigi Delneri said the club had aimed too high after his side finished the season seventh in Serie A and missed out on European qualification.

Delneri took charge of the team for the last time in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at home to Napoli having revealed the day before he had already been told by the club that his tenure would finish at the season’s end.

Delneri said he would now head off to the Maldives for a holiday but first suggested he had paid for unrealistic club demands.

Juve finished in the same position as last season, but last year they qualified for Europe because the two cup finalists both finished in Champions League positions.

This season was not as bad as the last in terms of points, defeats or goals conceded, but there is no European consolation this time.

“It’s been a very complicated year with a certain type of beginning and different types of plans,” said Delneri.

“Maybe (the club) expected too much and it’s clear that the coach pays for that, here the aim is to win.

“But I’m a man for the pitch and I hope to glean something from this experience.”

Juventus brought in 13 new players over the course of the season and Delneri said he needed more time to mould so many new elements into a winning outfit.

“It’s difficult to make so many changes and to win straight away, the two things don’t go hand in hand, even at Juve,” he said.

“We had some bad luck like against Catania and Chievo (two games drawn 2-2 at home after leading 2-0).

“Everyone can grow from this experience. If you give these players time they’ll become a good team but they can’t compete with Bayern Munich or Real Madrid.”