[ITA] Serie A 2007/2008 (13 Viewers)
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Moratti Surprised By Juventus Form
Inter President Massimo Moratti says that he is pleasantly surprised with just how well Juventus are doing in Serie A this season.
The Bianconeri were expected to struggle following their post-Calciopoli promotion from Serie B.
However Claudio Ranieri’s men have largely impressed, and although they are out of the title race, they are sitting pretty in third position.
On Saturday night Juve did Inter a big favour, as their 1-0 win over Roma in Turin extended the Nerazzurri’s lead at the top of Serie A to 11 points.
"I have been really surprised by their squad,” Moratti told the Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I did not think that after what had happened they would be competitive, with stubbornness, pride and results. Well done.”
Moving on to his own team, Moratti concurred with the view that, with the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Julio Cruz, David Suazo and Hernan Crespo at their disposal, Inter currently have the best crop of strikers in the whole of Europe.
"Yes this is true, and remember that there is also [Mario] Balotelli. He is really special,” said the oil tycoon.
The Nerazzurri’s strength in depth was exemplified during the 2-0 win over Livorno on Saturday afternoon, when both Ibrahimovic and Cruz were rested in favour of Crespo and Suazo, with the latter scoring both goals.
goal.com
Inter President Massimo Moratti says that he is pleasantly surprised with just how well Juventus are doing in Serie A this season.
The Bianconeri were expected to struggle following their post-Calciopoli promotion from Serie B.
However Claudio Ranieri’s men have largely impressed, and although they are out of the title race, they are sitting pretty in third position.
On Saturday night Juve did Inter a big favour, as their 1-0 win over Roma in Turin extended the Nerazzurri’s lead at the top of Serie A to 11 points.
"I have been really surprised by their squad,” Moratti told the Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I did not think that after what had happened they would be competitive, with stubbornness, pride and results. Well done.”
Moving on to his own team, Moratti concurred with the view that, with the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Julio Cruz, David Suazo and Hernan Crespo at their disposal, Inter currently have the best crop of strikers in the whole of Europe.
"Yes this is true, and remember that there is also [Mario] Balotelli. He is really special,” said the oil tycoon.
The Nerazzurri’s strength in depth was exemplified during the 2-0 win over Livorno on Saturday afternoon, when both Ibrahimovic and Cruz were rested in favour of Crespo and Suazo, with the latter scoring both goals.
goal.com
He's probably kicking himself. The fact that we are doing so well as a clean team proves that we deserved those scudetti and our demise was a set up - by him!
Spotlight: Ice Cold Alex Monday 18 February, 2008
Football Italia rounds up the winners and the losers from Week 23 of the Serie A season
The winners…
Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)
The performance of a true captain won the big match of the weekend. Not only did he score a cracking free kick – his 10th goal of the campaign – but he proved himself a leader in every way all over the field.
Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria)
Simply inspirational. The flicks, tricks, slaloms and vision revealed why people are still calling for him to be part of Italy’s Euro 2008 squad. Cassano is a pure talent and on days like this he proves there’s more to him than the tantrums.
Nicola Pozzi (Empoli)
It is a great shame that a day of joy with his brace giving Empoli their first ever win in Naples should be spoiled by another serious knee injury for the Under-21 international. Hopefully this performance can help give him the strength to fight back and recover.
The losers…
Nelson Dida (Milan)
It really is quite an achievement to get injured on the bench and need a stretcher when you’ve not even stepped on to the pitch. Maybe he was trying to make Ronaldo feel better?
Andrea Pisanu (Parma)
For the miss of the week. All he had to do was tap in from seven yards with only the goalkeeper to beat, but he managed to completely miss the ball.
Francesco Totti (Roma)
He has always comfortably won the comparison with Del Piero, but he was totally absent in Turin on Saturday evening. It’s not the first time, either, so Roma need their Pupone back if they are to keep hold of second place.
The goals…
Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)
Usually he is an elegant curler, but this time Pinturicchio took out the rocket launcher and Alexander Doni barely saw it before it was in the back of the net.
Francesco Modesto (Reggina)
Who knew the rugged midfielder had it in him? A sublime strike that saw him dummy the defender, spin round and smash his shot across the face of goal from the tightest of angles.
Adrian Mutu (Fiorentina)
The Romanian came to the rescue with a right-foot screamer from 25 metres that almost put a hole in the Catania net. Mutu is now second only to David Trezeguet in the Capocannoniere charts.
The numbers…
Millennium magic
Paolo Maldini celebrated the 1,000th professional match of his career, all of them with the Milan and Italy jerseys, when he came on as a substitute against Parma. Less epic a figure, Alessandro Rosina marked his 100th game for Torino.
Big boys
Juventus may be newly promoted, but they remain unbeaten against the big clubs, picking up four draws and a win in their meetings with Inter, Roma, Milan and Fiorentina. Can they hope to be the first Serie A side ever to take the Scudetto straight after this step up?
Paying the penalty
Spot-kicks are like buses – Lazio wait the entire season and then two come along at once. The only sides yet to receive a penalty this term are Udinese and Reggina. Referee Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni took the rare step of dismissing two players during the half-time break, as Marcelo Zalayeta and Felice Piccolo had a scuffle in the San Paolo tunnel.
Channel 4
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Mancini about Inter-Livorno: "Yes I am worried, there was no doubt about our goals,” Mancini said ironically to Sky after the game.
“What will we speak about tonight? Will the evening TV broadcasts be the same?".
What a cry baby.
Football Italia rounds up the winners and the losers from Week 23 of the Serie A season
The winners…
Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)
The performance of a true captain won the big match of the weekend. Not only did he score a cracking free kick – his 10th goal of the campaign – but he proved himself a leader in every way all over the field.
Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria)
Simply inspirational. The flicks, tricks, slaloms and vision revealed why people are still calling for him to be part of Italy’s Euro 2008 squad. Cassano is a pure talent and on days like this he proves there’s more to him than the tantrums.
Nicola Pozzi (Empoli)
It is a great shame that a day of joy with his brace giving Empoli their first ever win in Naples should be spoiled by another serious knee injury for the Under-21 international. Hopefully this performance can help give him the strength to fight back and recover.
The losers…
Nelson Dida (Milan)
It really is quite an achievement to get injured on the bench and need a stretcher when you’ve not even stepped on to the pitch. Maybe he was trying to make Ronaldo feel better?
Andrea Pisanu (Parma)
For the miss of the week. All he had to do was tap in from seven yards with only the goalkeeper to beat, but he managed to completely miss the ball.
Francesco Totti (Roma)
He has always comfortably won the comparison with Del Piero, but he was totally absent in Turin on Saturday evening. It’s not the first time, either, so Roma need their Pupone back if they are to keep hold of second place.
The goals…
Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)
Usually he is an elegant curler, but this time Pinturicchio took out the rocket launcher and Alexander Doni barely saw it before it was in the back of the net.
Francesco Modesto (Reggina)
Who knew the rugged midfielder had it in him? A sublime strike that saw him dummy the defender, spin round and smash his shot across the face of goal from the tightest of angles.
Adrian Mutu (Fiorentina)
The Romanian came to the rescue with a right-foot screamer from 25 metres that almost put a hole in the Catania net. Mutu is now second only to David Trezeguet in the Capocannoniere charts.
The numbers…
Millennium magic
Paolo Maldini celebrated the 1,000th professional match of his career, all of them with the Milan and Italy jerseys, when he came on as a substitute against Parma. Less epic a figure, Alessandro Rosina marked his 100th game for Torino.
Big boys
Juventus may be newly promoted, but they remain unbeaten against the big clubs, picking up four draws and a win in their meetings with Inter, Roma, Milan and Fiorentina. Can they hope to be the first Serie A side ever to take the Scudetto straight after this step up?
Paying the penalty
Spot-kicks are like buses – Lazio wait the entire season and then two come along at once. The only sides yet to receive a penalty this term are Udinese and Reggina. Referee Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni took the rare step of dismissing two players during the half-time break, as Marcelo Zalayeta and Felice Piccolo had a scuffle in the San Paolo tunnel.
Channel 4
-------------------------------
Mancini about Inter-Livorno: "Yes I am worried, there was no doubt about our goals,” Mancini said ironically to Sky after the game.
“What will we speak about tonight? Will the evening TV broadcasts be the same?".
What a cry baby.
Capello: Ronaldo Better Than Van Basten
England coach Fabio Capello talked about two of his former players, Ronaldo and Alessandro Del Piero, both of whom had difficult relationships with the coach.
»Perhaps living in England has made Fabio Capello more gentle. It would be hard, if that weren't the case, to explain the words said today by the England coach about Ronaldo and Alessandro Del Piero, two players who have never had a very good relationship with him.
On Ronaldo's recent knee injury, he said: "Unfortunately I saw it live and I was very sad. "Aside from everything that's been said, I have always claimed he is the best player I've ever coached, even superior to Marco Van Basten.
"Unfortunately this is a very serious injury and he will have to work hard to come back.
"I hope he does, because players like him are too important for football. He has to make it, he has to find back the pride and the will to come back."
He also spoke about Alessandro Del Piero, yet another star player he shared a hot and cold relationship with.
"Del Piero is another great player, and like all great players he has to understand that he has to rest sometimes," opined Don Fabio.
England coach Fabio Capello talked about two of his former players, Ronaldo and Alessandro Del Piero, both of whom had difficult relationships with the coach.
»Perhaps living in England has made Fabio Capello more gentle. It would be hard, if that weren't the case, to explain the words said today by the England coach about Ronaldo and Alessandro Del Piero, two players who have never had a very good relationship with him.
On Ronaldo's recent knee injury, he said: "Unfortunately I saw it live and I was very sad. "Aside from everything that's been said, I have always claimed he is the best player I've ever coached, even superior to Marco Van Basten.
"Unfortunately this is a very serious injury and he will have to work hard to come back.
"I hope he does, because players like him are too important for football. He has to make it, he has to find back the pride and the will to come back."
He also spoke about Alessandro Del Piero, yet another star player he shared a hot and cold relationship with.
"Del Piero is another great player, and like all great players he has to understand that he has to rest sometimes," opined Don Fabio.
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