Serie B Tim - 22 Sep 2006 - 2:16 PM
Deschamps: “Let’s have a repeat of Crotone”
“Modena were a strong team last year. They lost three or four players over the summer, mostly in attack, but I’ve seen their game against Genoa and they were impressive. They have quality players and are particularly dangerous on the counter-attack”. Didier Deschamps knows the danger Saturday’s opposition pose, but the return of his captain will be one less thing to worry about. “Del Piero is available. His injury wasn’t serious, just a minor inflammation that needed treatment, and he’s been back in training since Wednesday”.
With Zebina also back to fitness, the coach can very nearly boast a full compliment of players. “With the exception of Tudor and Legrottaglie, I have a full squad available, and I’m hoping that everyone will be in the same physical condition by the end of the month. Those who are on form will be picked; I can’t make everyone happy but it’s the group that’s important and the players must give their all no matter whether they play ten minutes, half an hour or a full game at a time. I don’t like to think of the team as the 'Juve of champions’, there are others in the group who are just as important and I’m happy to pick those on better form”.
Deschamps singled out one of those players, Jean-Alain Boumsong. “With only 45 minutes for Newcastle and 60 for France under his belt before he arrived here, he’s had a strange run up to the season. He still needs time to adapt to the Italian way but he’s feeling good, he knows what he can do, and his performance against Crotone will certainly help boost his confidence”.
Juventus have looked more settled in their Serie B surroundings of late. “I’m hoping we can continue with the same mentality. Football is all about confirmations, and we’re looking to build on the solid performance against Crotone. If we play like that every time then we’re in good shape”. For Deschamps, it’s still too early to be discussing league tables. “We’re still only at the beginning of the championship, we’ll need to wait a couple of months before we start talking numbers. One thing for sure though is that every team, even the favourites, have the potential to lose every game if they don’t go out there with the right competitive spirit. If we don’t respond to the physical and mental demands of this league, we risk losing games we are expected to win”.
Deschamps: “Let’s have a repeat of Crotone”
“Modena were a strong team last year. They lost three or four players over the summer, mostly in attack, but I’ve seen their game against Genoa and they were impressive. They have quality players and are particularly dangerous on the counter-attack”. Didier Deschamps knows the danger Saturday’s opposition pose, but the return of his captain will be one less thing to worry about. “Del Piero is available. His injury wasn’t serious, just a minor inflammation that needed treatment, and he’s been back in training since Wednesday”.
With Zebina also back to fitness, the coach can very nearly boast a full compliment of players. “With the exception of Tudor and Legrottaglie, I have a full squad available, and I’m hoping that everyone will be in the same physical condition by the end of the month. Those who are on form will be picked; I can’t make everyone happy but it’s the group that’s important and the players must give their all no matter whether they play ten minutes, half an hour or a full game at a time. I don’t like to think of the team as the 'Juve of champions’, there are others in the group who are just as important and I’m happy to pick those on better form”.
Deschamps singled out one of those players, Jean-Alain Boumsong. “With only 45 minutes for Newcastle and 60 for France under his belt before he arrived here, he’s had a strange run up to the season. He still needs time to adapt to the Italian way but he’s feeling good, he knows what he can do, and his performance against Crotone will certainly help boost his confidence”.
Juventus have looked more settled in their Serie B surroundings of late. “I’m hoping we can continue with the same mentality. Football is all about confirmations, and we’re looking to build on the solid performance against Crotone. If we play like that every time then we’re in good shape”. For Deschamps, it’s still too early to be discussing league tables. “We’re still only at the beginning of the championship, we’ll need to wait a couple of months before we start talking numbers. One thing for sure though is that every team, even the favourites, have the potential to lose every game if they don’t go out there with the right competitive spirit. If we don’t respond to the physical and mental demands of this league, we risk losing games we are expected to win”.
