Champions dream drives Alex
Tuesday 13 December, 2005
Juventus may be 10 points clear at the top of Serie A but what is really driving Alex Del Piero this season is a Champions League dream. "We’re keeping our fingers crossed," he said.
The Bianconeri have had a simply phenomenal start to the campaign, capped by this weekend’s 4-0 thrashing of Cagliari.
For his part, Pinturicchio will also have happy memories of this year after equalling Giampiero Boniperti’s record of 182 goals for the Turin club.
"We celebrated the League win with a real goal feast," he said of their heavy victory over Cagliari. "It was a superb match by us. An excellent first half followed by a controlled game in the second."
Pavel Nedved got the scoring off the mark after just 10 minutes before David Trezeguet made it 2-0. In the second half Trezeguet scored again with a delightful finish and an own goal by Fabio Vignati rounded off the victory.
"The proof of our strength can be seen by looking at the numbers," he added. "We’ve won 14 games out of 15, won eight out of eight at home and are 10 points ahead of Inter and Fiorentina."
Although Juve should be focusing their minds on maintaining their momentum for their next match against Lazio, it is the Champions League that is turning Del Piero’s head at the moment.
While Juventus have dominated the Serie A title race over recent years – they are on course for their fourth Scudetto win in five years – Champions League success has eluded them somewhat.
"Our next match is in Rome against Lazio on Saturday, but the day before all eyes will be focused on the Champions League draw for the last 16 at Nyon. We’re keeping our fingers crossed."
La Vecchia Signora have not won Europe’s premier competition for nine years and have been runners-up twice since.
Del Piero, who scored the consolation goal in Juve’s 3-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in 1997, is hoping for a better run this year and will be keen to avoid the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid when the draw is made on Friday.