Lilian Thuram (3 Viewers)
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Thuram: Juventus are favourites
Former Juventus and Monaco defender Lilian Thuram believes the Bianconeri are favourites when they meet in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The two clubs face off at the Juventus Stadium on Tuesday evening and Thuram thinks the Old Lady have the upper hand.
“It’s no surprise that Juventus are in the quarter-finals,” he told Tuttosport.
“Even though they’ve had some difficulty in the Champions League in recent years, they’re still a great club.
“With the players they have, they can’t be considered a surprise. Monaco on the other hand have astonished everyone by beating Arsenal in the Last 16.”
Thuram refused to agree with Monaco President Dmitry Rybolovlev that the French side were under less pressure to succeed than Juventus.
“Every squad, including Monaco, has something to lose. At first, everyone thought that Monaco wouldn’t get through the group stage, and then that they had no hope against Arsenal.
“Instead, they’ve made it to the quarter-finals, and once you’re there you want to keep progressing. I don’t believe that they are under any less pressure than Juve.”
The Old Lady will be missing star midfielder Paul Pogba for both legs due to a hamstring injury, but the former French international believes his absence will not significantly weaken the team.
“Juventus are favourites even without Pogba, at least on paper. No player can win a game by themselves, not even [Lionel] Messi.
“Having said that, Pogba is fantastic. He has incredible quality and unusual maturity for a player of his age. You can see he is determined and wants to improve and raise the level of his game.”
Former Juventus and Monaco defender Lilian Thuram believes the Bianconeri are favourites when they meet in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The two clubs face off at the Juventus Stadium on Tuesday evening and Thuram thinks the Old Lady have the upper hand.
“It’s no surprise that Juventus are in the quarter-finals,” he told Tuttosport.
“Even though they’ve had some difficulty in the Champions League in recent years, they’re still a great club.
“With the players they have, they can’t be considered a surprise. Monaco on the other hand have astonished everyone by beating Arsenal in the Last 16.”
Thuram refused to agree with Monaco President Dmitry Rybolovlev that the French side were under less pressure to succeed than Juventus.
“Every squad, including Monaco, has something to lose. At first, everyone thought that Monaco wouldn’t get through the group stage, and then that they had no hope against Arsenal.
“Instead, they’ve made it to the quarter-finals, and once you’re there you want to keep progressing. I don’t believe that they are under any less pressure than Juve.”
The Old Lady will be missing star midfielder Paul Pogba for both legs due to a hamstring injury, but the former French international believes his absence will not significantly weaken the team.
“Juventus are favourites even without Pogba, at least on paper. No player can win a game by themselves, not even [Lionel] Messi.
“Having said that, Pogba is fantastic. He has incredible quality and unusual maturity for a player of his age. You can see he is determined and wants to improve and raise the level of his game.”
Thuram always was an intellectual who had respect towards certain other players, but was not bound by club loyalties. Today the same goes for Pirlo. I doubt many of you have read his biography, but anyone who has knows that the lack of loyalty Pirlo has towards his clubs is shocking.
If someone likes that rejects and insults Juventus, I don't feel the pain to be honest. Del Piero turning his back on us would have been a betrayal. But Thuram, Zlatan, Cannavaro, Zambrotta.. Meh, why care?
I was most pissed off by Zambrotta of them all, third fav back then after Ale and Gigi.
The rest you are right, can't blame them for their obvious career choice even if you can for the statements (in Thurams case). It only makes you appreciate the legends like Ale, Gigi and Pavel alot more.
I don't count Trez and Camo because the difference between them and the others were they couldn't and weren't allowed to find other clubs to go to. Intention was the same.
The rest you are right, can't blame them for their obvious career choice even if you can for the statements (in Thurams case). It only makes you appreciate the legends like Ale, Gigi and Pavel alot more.
I don't count Trez and Camo because the difference between them and the others were they couldn't and weren't allowed to find other clubs to go to. Intention was the same.
