Del Neri: 'Diego important for Juve'
Saturday 10 July, 2010
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Gigi Del Neri has sensationally taken Diego off the market. “He can play an important part for Juventus and is tactically similar to Cristiano Doni.”
The Bianconeri need to whittle down their squad after bringing in a series of new names and Diego is one of those expected to go following a poor debut campaign.
In his first training sessions, the Coach has been testing him out as a support striker, much like Antonio Cassano at Sampdoria.
“Diego is a very different player to Cassano, as I feel he is tactically similar to Doni,” insisted Del Neri in today’s Press conference.
“He is working hard and can do very well. I think he can play an important part for Juventus this season.
“Diego must be free to roam the final third, as he can play easily as a support for a lone centre-forward or as a trequartista behind two strikers.
“Quite aside from tactics, the important thing is to have the right mentality. Every player must work for the team and not as an individual. This squad needs certainty at every level and once I’ve chosen a system, we will not change it.”
Del Neri is still working on the tactics ahead of Juve’s early start to the season in the Europa League preliminary round.
The squad numbers were unveiled today, but further adjustments are expected on the transfer market.
“We must move cautiously,” said the Coach. “Spending money for the sake of buying is pointless, otherwise we may as well keep the players we have now.
“Juve must have an identity and a style of play, that is what President Andrea Agnelli asked for and where we must start from.
“We must absorb that mentality and then take it with us on to the field.”
FI.