Buffon: “I believe we can do it”
With all the wisdom of a seasoned campaigner, Gigi Buffon knows his team are more than capable of ensuring their place in Serie A next year. “Even with a heavy penalty it’s important we remain calm but I’ve done a few calculations and I’m confident we can get enough points to secure promotion, whether that’s via the play-offs or a top two finish. We have a great team with some fantastic individuals and I believe we can do it”.
“The choice was not a difficult one. With all sincerity, I’m glad I’m playing in Serie B and not Serie A this year. After twelve years in Serie A, I know all the changing rooms, the teams, the players and the fans! It’s all new for me here and the receptions I’ve been given are exactly what I had hoped for. It’s a personal victory for me”. Gigi Buffon is adapting well to his new surroundings, free of regrets and focused on the job at hand, not on what he might be missing. “I’m not an envious person. I can honestly say that were Juve still in Serie A, with Inter and Roma penalised and Milan in Serie B, and we won the championship, the value of the title would not be the same. I’m quite happy to say so, and I think everyone would agree”.
Tuesday’s victory over Crotone was the Bianconeri’s first clean sheet of the championship so far, and Buffon singled out the contribution of new arrival Boumsong for praise. “He’s a player with tremendous physical and technical qualities. It’s just a matter of him getting used to the style of play in Italy. He was already fantastic against Crotone, both in defence and in attack, and I believe he will become a great player. He applies himself more than anyone else, especially when it comes to learning the language, he’s obviously someone who has respect for the country he’s chosen to live in”. The goalkeeper was similarly enthusiastic about the performances of Camoranesi. “Mauro has always been first there to help out the team. He’s a brilliant guy for so many different reasons and in previous years, he has given us that step-up in quality”. The word 'sacrifice’ has been widely attached to the decisions of Buffon and his team mates to stay on in Turin, but the goalkeeper is aware it works both ways round. “Juventus have made their own sacrifices, players don’t get paid in antique china and people need to realise that”.
The goalkeeper is ready for Saturday’s game with Modena. “I’ve only seen their first game of the championship, a home defeat against Verona, but they’ve been a strong side for a number of years now. Even if they have lost something with the departure of Bucchi, they still have a good striker in Colacone, a former team mate of mine at Parma”.
The world champion was then asked what Serie B is like from a goalkeeping point of view. “It’s a curious experience as you don’t always know much about the players you’re up against. Having said that, I’ve played games for the national side against lesser-known teams, and it sometimes happens that you don’t even know if the opposition striker is left or right footed. You need to be alert at all times”. And the stadium? “It’s great, a real gem. It’s almost like a theatre”. Despite his optimism, Buffon is not one to get ahead of himself. “Anything can happen between now and the end of the season. I’m a player with a grain or two of experience, and I know there’s no point talking about the league table as early as September. Maybe after December we’ll need to start paying attention to the table but certainly not before”. And if Juve do make it back to Serie A straight away? “If we manage to secure promotion this year I think the whole process of rebuilding will be speeded up. We’re the best-loved club in the country and we have a responsibility to maintain that superiority”.
The stopper spoke highly of new man at the helm, Didier Dechamps. “Obviously as a goalkeeper we don’t have that much direct contact, but he’s easy to work with and I’m happy he’s in charge”. Buffon knows a strong team spirit is needed this year. “We need to analyse our situation; this is a year of sacrifice and we know that whatever happens, we need to remain intelligent and altruistic, egos will only hinder our progress”. And finally, a word on the clash between the Serie B and international calendars. “The situation has to be resolved one way or another, I just hope that the decision isn’t controversial. It’s the last thing we need and I hope good sense will prevail with everyone in agreement”.
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