The Inter game is gone and already forgotten and the entire focus is now on Wednesday’s match against Nordsjaelland. While the lads are hard at work at Vinovo, the desire to bounce straight back was clear from Giuseppe Marotta during his appearance on "La Politica nel Pallone" (Politics in Football), a Gr Parlamento radio show.
Several topics were covered, from Saturday’s match to their next Champions League encounter, from this Juve side to the current state of Italian football.
Inter game already forgotten
"We’re gutted about the defeat, we’re all winners, but we know how to deal with bad results. We had an incredible run, 49 matches unbeaten is an extraordinary sequence. We’re already back to work ahead of Wednesday’s game against Nordsjaelland and before getting back to league action. We’re looking forward. The fact we won the Scudetto and Super Cup shows what a top club Juventus are."
Refereeing controversies
"There have been wrong decisions in the past and there will be in the future. There were refereeing mistakes when I was a kid, back when Concetto Lo Bello was around. Today the technology we use is a lot more advanced. TV pictures are dissected in the most minute detail and you can uncover errors even of a few inches. We have also had referees who can give decisions our way or against us, but they balance themselves out, it’s the same for everyone. Last season Catania had 11 penalties in their favour, we had 4. Human error is never far away but let’s stop suggesting these errors are deliberate. Technology can tell us if a ball has crossed the line or not. But super slo-mos would not completely rid the game of refereeing howlers. In some cases, for example, whether a player has been pushed in the box, you can’t really tell with slow-motion replays."
Response to Stramaccioni
"I had no intention of causing controversy when I spoke of him being carefree, but if Stramaccioni’s looking for an argument, bring it on. I meant it as a compliment that he seems calm in the way he operates. ‘Carefree’ according to the dictionary is synonymous with being calm and distanced and it’s this quality which allows him to effectively coach a team."
Support of the fans
"The fans are one of our assets, the fact we have so many supporters behind us means we really do have a 12th man when we play at home, and we all feel them willing us on. This is also an important factor in terms of increasing our revenue."
No big changes in transfer window
"We won’t make huge changes to the squad and we won’t make big statements. It’s hard to sign top players, not only for Juve but for every team in Italy. In fact there’s been an exodus of the league’s best players, so we’re swimming against the tide and this should make us think."
Pirlo deserves Ballon d’Or
"Pirlo should win the Ballon d’Or, I say that as a board member and football man. He’s shown he’s one of the best in the world."
Well done Pogba
"I must congratulate my whole team on the signing of Pogba, he’s an example of finding the player who meets the club’s needs. I’m proud we got him, but we didn’t pinch him from Manchester United, we signed him having spoken to the club."
Conte’s absence is felt
"Conte is a young coach, he went 48 matches without defeat, won the league, Super Cup and reached the final of the Coppa Italia. He’s one of the best coaches in the world. We really feel his absence and it shows how our season is more difficult as a result. We’ve only lost once without him, but only because his staff are top draw and the players are professionals. He’s like a caged lion at the moment, he can’t demonstrate his footballing nous over 90 minutes. He’s suffering. He was angry after Saturday’s match, but ultimately determined."
Italian football in trouble
"We’re going backwards. A few years ago we were the top-ranked nation, today we only have three teams in the Champions League. It goes hand in hand with the country’s economic problems. I hope the top teams are not seen as cows to be milked but rather as clubs that represent Italy abroad and can increase the status of our football."
Juventus looking forward
"Juventus are proposing change. We hope the law on stadiums will bring grounds up to standard and increase revenue to allow for new signings. We would like to see the Melandri law on television rights looked at, for example Juventus’ rights are lower than a few years ago despite the fact that TV money has gone up. We would also like to reform the sporting justice system, the suspension of a player or coach is a significant loss. We have quick trials in which the accused is hammered and people can’t defend themselves. In terms of how the system’s run, first we need to talk about TV rights and then do likewise for the president of the Lega Calcio. Juve going back to being on the federal council? Andrea Agnelli is still there, it’s not simply because of who his family is, but also because of his sporting expertise since he was young man. ECA is also important, it helps all the teams, not just Juventus."
Source: Juventus.com
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