Capello shrugs off Sicilian challenge
Saturday 16 October, 2004
Fabio Capello’s Juventus side is unstoppable at the moment and he claims they have not been sorely tested yet.
“I preferred the first half performance,” he commented after tonight’s 2-1 win against second-placed Messina, “but overall I can’t say we struggled in the slightest. We are playing good football and entertaining the fans.”
The Bianconeri have now opened up a five-point lead at the top despite an injury crisis that left him with only two options upfront.
“Marcelo Zalayeta played very well,” continued Capello, “moving around the field and making himself dangerous from a variety of positions. As for my choice of Stephen Appiah in midfield, I considered him the most suited to our opponents.”
Messina were rarely dangerous in the first half, although they did stage a late fightback following Riccardo Zampagna’s goal.
“We were too timorous to begin with,” conceded Coach Bortolo Mutti, “stepping back and allowing Juve to move the ball around as they pleased. We needed to be more up for the challenges when their goals came in.”
The most disappointing player on the night was Alessandro Parisi, who this week had been heavily linked to a Juventus move.
“He felt the importance of the match and everything that had been said in the press. I wanted to substitute him, but didn’t have the courage to do that to him.”
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