One week into training camp, it's almost time for Juventus to play a proper match; on Wednesday the 18th of July at 5 pm, in Pinzolo, Juve will face Mezzocorona, a local team recently promoted to the C2 division. This test will allow us to get a first glimpse of the team that Claudio Ranieri is trying to shape: “You can't say this will be the first real Juventus, it's basically only a training match with two different line-ups. I haven't decided the starting eleven yet. I normally choose on the night before the match, when I'm able to collect my thoughts and impressions and then decide. Plus we still have two training sessions and I'm not sure who'll be available among the injured yet”.
Game in doubt for Camoranesi, while Buffon and Del Piero will definitely not be playing. Ranieri spoke graciously about the Captain: “He's a diligent, positive guy who has his job at heart and wants to be at his best. He was hoping to start the season well, he was getting himself in shape and then he had this little inconvenience, but he's getting over it. He's his own best doctor. We're bringing him up to speed with the others and he'll soon be available again”.
Going up against different opponents will be something new after all this training, but most of all it'll be the first chance to assemble a team of 11 men: “Because of the number of players I have at my disposal at the moment, during our training games until now I've assembled teams of 13 players, and let them decide in which roles to play. My biggest curiosity for this first proper match is seeing how the different players behave. I don't ask for much at first”.
It is certain that the fans will once again show their affection, something the Manager has appreciated from day one: “I wasn't expecting such warmth. This motivates us even more. The players are all very committed in training, the new ones as well as the old ones. Day after day we're trying to become a team. That's what separates us from our rivals at the moment”.
Juventus.com