Il Capitano Alessandro Del Piero (160 Viewers)
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Del Piero fights back Saturday 29 October, 2005
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Alessandro Del Piero could be benched for tonight’s Scudetto showdown with Milan and admits he’s disappointed at being left off the Ballon d’Or shortlist.
“I will prepare for this game as if I was certain of starting,” assured the Juventus captain in ‘Tuttosport’ newspaper. “My training schedule, my mental approach and preparation of details has not changed. I feel like a first-team player, but if Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Trezeguet start, then I will cheer them on.”
The Italian international has scored three goals in six Serie A appearances this season, and provided the inspired assist for Trezeguet’s winning goal at the San Siro last May, but remains third choice behind his Juve team-mates.
“I am a bonus for the strikers who play alongside me, as they often score more goals when I am supporting them. It happened with Fabrizio Ravanelli and Pippo Inzaghi, while now the same thing occurs with David and Zlatan. My team-mates have no reason for complaint.”
Del Piero also focuses on his own scoring ratio and on 177 goals is closing in on Giampiero Boniperti’s all-time Juve record of 182. “That landmark will be beaten and I hope it is soon,” he smiled.
Alex has been on the sidelines a great deal since the arrival of Fabio Capello, but assures the fractious relationship has been healed.
“Our rapport is very good at the moment, as he is a determined Coach and knows how to spread his desire to win throughout the squad. He is so competent precisely because he lives for football.”
Nonetheless, the last year has been a difficult one for Del Piero and he was left off the 50-man shortlist for France Football’s prestigious Ballon d’Or trophy.
“I was upset by that decision, as last year I was coming off an injury and therefore it was understandable, but in 2005 the situation changed in my view. In any case, I didn’t lose any sleep over it. I accepted it when the award went to Mathias Sammer in 1996 and I was only fourth, so I won’t make myself ill over this now.”
Del Piero will probably be joined on the bench by Christian Abbiati this evening, as Capello confirmed that the goalkeeper is struggling with tonsillitis and “personal problems.” Former Lecce man Antonio Chimenti will instead fill in for the injured Gianluigi Buffon.
Juventus squad:
Gk: 12 Chimenti, 32 Abbiati, 22 Bonnefoi
D: 3 Chiellini, 6 Kovac, 7 Pessotto, 14 Balzaretti, 19 Zambrotta, 28 Cannavaro, 23 Giannichedda, 21 Thuram
M: 4 Vieira, 8 Emerson, 11 Nedved, 16 Camoranesi, 18 Mutu, 20 Blasi
F: 9 Ibrahimovic, 10 Del Piero, 17 Trezeguet, 25 Zalayeta
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Alessandro Del Piero could be benched for tonight’s Scudetto showdown with Milan and admits he’s disappointed at being left off the Ballon d’Or shortlist.
“I will prepare for this game as if I was certain of starting,” assured the Juventus captain in ‘Tuttosport’ newspaper. “My training schedule, my mental approach and preparation of details has not changed. I feel like a first-team player, but if Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Trezeguet start, then I will cheer them on.”
The Italian international has scored three goals in six Serie A appearances this season, and provided the inspired assist for Trezeguet’s winning goal at the San Siro last May, but remains third choice behind his Juve team-mates.
“I am a bonus for the strikers who play alongside me, as they often score more goals when I am supporting them. It happened with Fabrizio Ravanelli and Pippo Inzaghi, while now the same thing occurs with David and Zlatan. My team-mates have no reason for complaint.”
Del Piero also focuses on his own scoring ratio and on 177 goals is closing in on Giampiero Boniperti’s all-time Juve record of 182. “That landmark will be beaten and I hope it is soon,” he smiled.
Alex has been on the sidelines a great deal since the arrival of Fabio Capello, but assures the fractious relationship has been healed.
“Our rapport is very good at the moment, as he is a determined Coach and knows how to spread his desire to win throughout the squad. He is so competent precisely because he lives for football.”
Nonetheless, the last year has been a difficult one for Del Piero and he was left off the 50-man shortlist for France Football’s prestigious Ballon d’Or trophy.
“I was upset by that decision, as last year I was coming off an injury and therefore it was understandable, but in 2005 the situation changed in my view. In any case, I didn’t lose any sleep over it. I accepted it when the award went to Mathias Sammer in 1996 and I was only fourth, so I won’t make myself ill over this now.”
Del Piero will probably be joined on the bench by Christian Abbiati this evening, as Capello confirmed that the goalkeeper is struggling with tonsillitis and “personal problems.” Former Lecce man Antonio Chimenti will instead fill in for the injured Gianluigi Buffon.
Juventus squad:
Gk: 12 Chimenti, 32 Abbiati, 22 Bonnefoi
D: 3 Chiellini, 6 Kovac, 7 Pessotto, 14 Balzaretti, 19 Zambrotta, 28 Cannavaro, 23 Giannichedda, 21 Thuram
M: 4 Vieira, 8 Emerson, 11 Nedved, 16 Camoranesi, 18 Mutu, 20 Blasi
F: 9 Ibrahimovic, 10 Del Piero, 17 Trezeguet, 25 Zalayeta
