Del Piero pleased with himself Saturday 11 December, 2004
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Alessandro Del Piero is always at the centre of praise or criticism, but the Juve captain is confident he’s doing his job.
“I realise that there are always great expectations hanging over me, but I consider that to be a good thing. It means that fans and journalists think me capable of brilliant football.”
Del Piero has barely featured over the last six weeks due to an Achilles tendon problem and muscular strain, but his goal in the 1-1 Champions’ League draw with Maccabi Tel Aviv boosted his confidence.
“I had a few slight injury worries, but nothing compared to what I had to deal with last year. This is a positive moment for myself and the whole team,” commented the Italian international. “Of course there’s always room for improvement, but I am satisfied with my progress.”
The Bianconeri qualified top of their Champions’ League group with five wins and a draw, while they must protect a four-point Serie A lead from Milan.
“I am scoring regularly and my understanding with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcelo Zalayeta is just perfect. When David Trezeguet returns from his shoulder surgery, we will have an extra weapon in our armoury.”
The press in the Peninsula is already looking forward to next week’s Scudetto showdown with the Rossoneri, but Del Piero pours cold water over their enthusiasm.
“I understand that this is a game that makes people excited,” he concluded, “but first we must beat Bologna. It’s a very important tie that will get us to the Milan match in top condition. I’m not sure if the title is a two-horse race now, as Inter’s 5-0 win over Messina could spark a string of victories for them. All we must do is concentrate on winning our own games and not on what our opponents are doing.”