There has been little time for Alberto Zaccheroni to stop and think since he arrived at Juventus yesterday as the new coach: a first training session, a presentation press conference, another training session today and a second press conference afterwards.
During the press conference the journalists touched on various topics. Here are the highlights.
The players available for the match against Lazio.
I have little information too since I arrived yesterday morning and with a lot nto do. Once I finished my commitments I began working on my team. Normally, I announce the list of call-ups after the last training session but I have not been in a position to do so, also because I did not meet the medical staff yet. I will be thinking of this even tomorrow.
Who is in the worst of situations Lazio or Juventus.
I have been concentrating on Juventus even though I watched Lazio too. I will take advantage of the time I have to see what I can do with the players available. I believe that we have the duty to make the game ours.
How difficult is it to join a team in such a moment?
Who likes this profession, and arrives in such a particular situation, not have a pre-season and all the time to get to know the players well. I know the players when it comes to their technical abilities but less when it comes to their characters. They are also under stress and therefore my objective is to put things back in order.
The disposition of the players.
I spoke to the players and nobody resisted to making himself available. My relationship with the players is based on clarity and roles. We must start slowly and demand more as we move ahead. I hope that we do away with the fear that conditioned the last matches. The psychological part of the team is the part I know least and it is the most delicate. I must understand what these players can give me when it comes to concentration for instance. Juventus is not a team that plays to avoid relegation but it plays to win and therefore in these situations concentration is very important.
How to move on.
We must see the average performance of the players and seeing the abilities of these players there performances have been under average. I want to put them in the condition to perform to the best of their abilities. I began by speaking to the captain and I told him what I expect from him and what is of an advantage to us and what is of a disadvantage. I will do the same with each and every player.
Since when did you believe in this chance?
I began to hope when you started mentioning me as a possible candidate to this position just like any coach who does not have a team.
The time to think.
My role is to think of how to put my players in the condition to show their abilities. Perhaps, as strange as it may seem, tomorrow, the day of the match, is when I will manage to find more time to think about it. I have ideas in my mind. It is not enough for me to tell the players about them but I must convince the players that they are valid. All players have their preferences when it comes to coaches and modes of play but the important thing is that we share the same ideas.
The feeling of getting back to coaching.
I made a choice at the start of my career. It was a choice of life and since then, with all the sacrifices made even by my family, I always preferred not to compromise. I never had an agent and always managed myself and doing so I was always free from certain situations like have the same agent as one of your players. With such a way of managing things when you are first on the list everybody seeks you and when you are last you just have to wait and see. However, no president can ever say that he called me and did not reach an agreement with me because I asked for too much.
The right spirit.
I want the spirit of the start of the season.
The feeling with the supporters.
I must win the love of the supporters. I know perfectly well that it is up to me to do so. I have no history with the team. However, I must first win the love of my players and then it is all a chain reaction.
The performances of certain players
I make no distinction between players. Certain players are distinct for what they have done but a coach should not make these distinctions. In the dressing room there are players whose voice is made more heard but others who show themselves better on the field. We will see what are the advantages and disadvantages of their suggestions and then we will decide.
www.juventus.com
Zaccheroni: «We must share the same idea»
Zaccheroni’s new technical staff
In order to help Alberto Zaccheroni there will be 5 professionals: vice-coach Stefano Agresti, goalkeeper coach Alessandro Nista and trainers Eugenio Albarella, Claudio Gaudino and Andrea Scanavino.
If on one hand, for Gaudino and Scanavino it is the continuation of an experience which began at the start of the season, for Nista it is a promotion from the Primavera where he began working in summer. The new faces, apart from the coach, are Agresti and Albarella.
Let us get to know the three new entries better.
Stefano Agresti has been working alongside Alberto Zaccheroni for many years. A Florentine from Barberino di Mugello, he has already had an experience at Juventus. This was in the mid-1970s when he played within the youth sector forming part of the Berretti and Primavera squads.
After the parenthesis in the Juve nursery, he played for Pistoiese, Bari, Ternana and Siracusa, a club with which – due to a serious injury – he ended his career as a footballer at an early stage before undertaking that of coach.
He began his long collaboration with Zaccheroni back in 1985, during the experience with Riccione. In these 25 years he accompanied the coach from Romagna in all his experiences, winning the 1998/99 championship at Milan.
A Tuscan from Livorno, Alessandro Nista can boast of a long career as a professional goalkeeper, During his long career he played for Sorrento, Pisa, Leeds United, Ancona, Parma and Torino as well as forming part of Italy’s Under 21 team.
With Parma he won the UEFA Cup and the Coppa Italia during the 1998/99 season as well as having been the reserve goalkeeper of Gigi Buffon for a long time. He will now meet him again at Juventus.
Apart from all this, he also won two promotions from the Serie B to Serie A with the jerseys of Pisa (1984/85) and Torino (2000/01). He made 66 appearances in Serie A, 114 in Serie B and 3 in Serie C1, before beginning his career as a goalkeeper coach, a role which he had at Torino, Reggina and Grosseto. In the summer of 2009 he joined Juventus as goalkeeper coach of the Primavera until today when he was promoted to the first team.
A new trainer will be part of the technical staff of Juventus. Together with Alberto Zaccheroni, comes also Eugenio Albarella. He returns to working with the coach from Romagna in a collaboration which began during the period spent with Torino.
After having studied in Naples, Rome and the Master classes in Coverciano, he began working with football clubs in 1991 with Monza. He then worked with important teams such as Napoli, Livorno and Salerno, collaborating – amongst others – with expert coaches like Colomba and De Canio.
Besides working on the field, he also teaches Training Methodology at the l’Università Partenope di Napoli.
www.juventus.com
Zaccheroni: «I want to win this challenge»
Alberto Zaccheroni encountered his new reality, spoke with the players and directed the first training session in Vinovo. At the end of the session Zaccheroni met the journalists who he will meet again on Saturday at 13:30hrs during the usual press conference on the eve of the match. Here are the highlights of his dialogue with the media.
Regards to Ferrara.
I met Ferrara before the training session, we said hello to each other but did not exchange opinions because I do not want to know what happened before. I just want to make this team turn over a new leaf and look ahead. I am not saying so because I do not appreciate the work done before, because at the start of the championship I liked Juventus very much. I do not deny the ideas of my predecessor. I will make my deductions and evaluate the squad at my disposal. As I told the lads, even though I do not know them personally, when it comes to football I know them very well.
The challenge
As from today I will start trying to win this challenge, more then sure I will win it. With this squad it can be done and we have enough time ahead. I must no event something but bring back the players to an average level which for many reasons they haven’t been up to now. The mind plays a big role in football and I will work on this aspect.
The first meeting with the team.
I spoke with the players. From them I expect availability. Talent is not enough. I got the answer that I was expecting and therefore we just have to prepare for this challenge. Whoever loves football like I do, would pay to have the opportunity of winning this challenge.
The objective
The minimum is qualifying for the Champions League seeing that we are not in the top 4 positions. Then the rest will depends on how long it takes us and in what conditions we get there. In football, you never know. Due to injuries, my predecessor had difficulties with fielding 11 men on the field, sometimes. The luck of a coach depends on these things: being at the right place at the right time, having a great club behind him and not having injuries. If one has the possibility of choosing according to the best condition, it is very hard to fail.
The formation
Systems of play can always be applied. They are like an outfit with which to dress the players available. The perfect one does not exist. They all have pros and cons, depending on the characteristics of the players. I would like my team to be able to change skin one week after another. Even if there will be a dominating system, there will also be a couple of alternatives. Which? I already have an idea, I know the players from a technical and tactical aspect but not from a character point of view and that has quite some weight and therefore I will evaluate this.
www.juventus.com
Blanc: «Zaccheroni: a guarantee of experience»
«Allow me to thank Ciro Ferrara, a man who esteem very much both from a professional and human point of view. Football is cruel and sometimes it leads to painful decisions. Ciro is still part of Juventus and we will study with him, serenely, in the coming weeks, how to proceed with our work together». Juventus President Jean-Claude Blanc, presenting new Juventus coach Alberto Zaccheroni, did not forget to thank the coach that led the team up to this moment. One must look ahead however and thus the choice of Zaccheroni: «shared by the sports structure of the club, the board of management and the proprietors – continued Blanc -. It guarantees us experience at maximum levels with Italian teams, which is necessary in this difficult moment».
The decision to lift Ferrara of his role was not dictated by emotion: «We have been thinking of it lately and having been eliminated from the Coppa Italia was determinant. We have been going through sporting difficulties for the last two months and a month ago I asked Roberto Bettega to return to the club to help me come out of this situation. We tried with Ciro and his staff, but after so many matches without a victory, being concrete persons who must take decisions, we took this decision».
Answering those who asked him whether he ever though of resigning, Blanc responded without hesitation: «I never thought of resigning. The responsibility cannot be of just one man and errors were made by the whole “chain”, which includes me and the players. Football does not permit you to change 25 players but gives you the opportunity to give a charge to the environment by changing the staff. We tried to put the players before their responsibility this week and it is what we have done even with this decision. We expect a professional behaviour on and off the field. We must turn round this situation. We have the technical quality and half a season to do so».
With regards to the contract signed by Zacceroni, which binds him to Juventus until the end of the season, deputy director general Roberto Bettega explained: «We have reached an agreement for this period of time but have substantially agreed on an option for Juventus for the next season».
www.juventus.com
Zaccheroni is the new coach of Juventus
As from today, Juventus has a new coach: Alberto Zaccheroni. By means of a press release, the club has announced having lifted Ciro Ferrara from his role and nominated the coach from Romagna who signed a contract up to June 2010.
Zaccheroni will take control of the team immediately and will direct the first training session in Vinovo at 15:00hrs after which at 17:00hrs he will be presented to the press officially.
Zac,a s he is more commonly known, was born in Meldola, a province of Cesena-Forli, on the 1st April 1953 and lived his first coaching experiences on the benches of Romagna, such as that of Cesenatico and Riccione. After the seasons spent at Boca San Lazzaro, in Baracca Lugo, at Venezia and Bologna he signed for Cosenza in 1994, where he had a great season managing to save the rossoblu from relegation notwithstanding a 9 point penalization and going close to promotion.
He was thus signed by Udinese and in Friuli confirmed his abilities, imposing himself thanks to a 3-4-3 formation which exalted the characteristics of the attacking trio formed by Poggi, Bierhoff and Amoroso. He stayed in Udine for 3 seasons, during which he obtained an impressive third place before moving to Milan, with the rossoneri, where in 1998/99 he won the Scudetto after a fiery comeback over Lazio.
He coached the biancocelesti during the 2001/02 season, winning access to the UEFA Cup and contributing to the scudetto won by Juventus thanks to the 4-2 victory against Inter in the match played on the 5th of May.
In 2003 he returned to Milan, this time for Inter, and qualified for the Champions League. His last experience was as Torino coach, where he stayed from the summer of 2006 up to January 2007. Now her returns to the Piedmont capital, this time as Juventus coach.
www.juventus.com
Report: Juve call on Zac
It’s reported that Juventus have asked Alberto Zaccheroni to replace Ciro Ferrara after Thursday’s Coppa trip to Inter.
Many believe Ferrara is facing the axe after losing five of his last six games, including a run of three Serie A defeats on the trot.
There are problems finding a replacement, as Guus Hiddink and Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez are proving too expensive.
Now it’s reported throughout Italy that the hot favourite is Zaccheroni, a former Milan, Inter, Lazio and Udinese tactician.
Zac would essentially be a caretaker manager until the end of the season, when Benitez should be free from his Liverpool contract.
However, he reveals that he has far greater ambitions than being a stop-gap solution in Turin.
“I miss football and cannot wait to get back to work,” he told Il Giornale.
“It’s a shame some people go around saying I don’t want to train any more or than I have huge wage demands. It’s all false.
“Taking Marcello Lippi’s place after the World Cup would be the crowning moment of my career and I think I have the CV to back that up.
“I did go close in the summer of 2006, but the Federation preferred Roberto Donadoni.”
Zaccheroni won the Scudetto with Milan in 1999, but his last job saw him sacked by Torino on February 26 2007.
www.juvefc.com
Amauri, De Ceglie, Diego and Zebina back with the group
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Juventus got back to work this morning in Vinovo to continue with the preparation in view of the match against Inter. The viral gastroenteritis that stopped five bianconeri from training yesterday has been overcome and Amauri, De Ceglie, Diego and Zebina trained regularly with the group which took part in technique exercises and tactical work while Alessandro Del Piero trained in the gym.
Tomorrow afternoon, th team will have the last training session before the Coppa Italia match against the nerazzurri which will be played at the San Siro on Thursday night.
www.juventus.com
Luciano Moggi Urges Jean-Claude Blanc To Resign As Juventus President
‘Lucianone’ says Juve are paying a high price for their directors’ ineptness.
By Vince Masiello
Ex-Juventus director general Luciano Moggi has blamed the Bianconeri’s wretched season on the club’s ‘incompetent’ management, singling out president Jean-Claude Blanc for particular blame.
The Turin giants’ league campaign has fallen by the wayside after suffering six defeats in their last eight outings and Moggi has no doubt where to point the finger.
“Juve are paying the price for the inadequacy and incompetence of their directors,” he slammed on Gold Sport yesterday.
“You can clearly see that the players are not relaxed and have lost their self-confidence. The club lacks an influential reference point.
“[Director of sport Alessio] Secco should go back to acting as a team manager and Blanc should step down with immediate effect.
“And to think that Blanc once said that football management was easier than he had thought. Perhaps he was thinking about someone else’s team…
“They have destroyed a side which was among the best in the world when it comes to organisation and competence.”
Moggi was driven out of the club by the new hierarchy after being banned from football for five years in the wake of the 2006 Calciopoli scandal.
“They have condemned us publicly and even hit our families, but what goes around comes around,” he roared.
“With this management it will be impossible to restore the normality which is suitable for a great side like Juve.”
www.goal.com
Moggi would like Wenger at Juve
Luciano Moggi, the disgraced former Juventus general manager, would like to see Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger replace Ciro Ferrara.
The Bianconeri are said to be considering a change on the bench after Saturday's disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Roma.
Juventus currently lie sixth in Serie A, four points adrift of the Champions League places.
Speaking to Studio Stadio, Moggi said: “The only foreigner that I see doing well at Juventus is Arsene Wenger of Arsenal, who we had in hand to replace Lippi in 2004, but then Capello freed himself from Roma and it all went like you know.
“Wenger would be the perfect manager with whom to start again. Even with these directors…
“Juventus are paying for their incapacity and the leadership at board level. You can see the players aren't going on to the pitch in a calm frame of mind and that they have lost self-esteem. They lack an authoritative point of reference in the club.
“Secco should return to being the team manager and Blanc should resign this instant. And to think that one-day Blanc said: 'football is easier than I thought.' Evidently he was speaking about teams made by other…
“They have destroyed a team that was among the best in the world for organisation and competency. It will be impossible with these directors to get team back to the normality that surrounds a great football club like Juventus,” he concluded.
www.juvefc.com
Juve can't find a replacement
La Gazzetta dello Sport understands Juventus are struggling to find an adequate replacement for the ailing Ciro Ferrara.
The club's patron, John Elkann, is said to have asked Juventus President Jean-Claude Blanc to fire Ferrara following Saturday's 2-1 defeat at home to Roma.
However, Blanc is apparently reluctant to do so for moral and political reasons, but also because the Bianconeri can't find a successor capable of guaranteeing a return to winning ways.
Guus Hiddink remains the No 1 target, but the sensation is that he would cost too much to lure away from Russia.
Dino Zoff, the club's legendary former goalkeeper, has said that he isn't really interested in taking over the reins again.
Other names on the shortlist like those of Michael Laudrup and Alberto Zaccheroni are viewed as being a tad too risky, leaving Blanc with the option of hiring someone with sentimental ties to Juventus.
Gianluca Vialli fits the criteria, but his friendship with Ferrara is said to be a stumbling block.
Last but not least is Massimo Carrera, the 45-year-old former defender who is currently in charge of the Juventus academy.
However, the last time they tried promoting internally they ended up with Ferrara, making Carrera's candidacy a last resort.
www.juvefc.com
Elkann to pull plug on Ferrara?
Newspapers claim Ciro Ferrara’s time at Juventus is up, as patron John Elkann intervenes personally.
The Coach again refused to resign and insisted he would “find a way out” of the crisis, but last night’s 2-1 home defeat to Roma – the fifth loss in six games – could well be the final straw.
President Jean-Claude Blanc and recently-appointed assistant general manager Roberto Bettega reiterated their faith in Ferrara.
However, the way to avoid an about-face from the administration would be bringing in patron Elkann to break the news and make the decision.
Elkann is the heir to the FIAT empire and Agnelli family who have owned Juventus for generations.
He is a committed fan of the club and many among the supporters have called for him to take over as the new President.
If Elkann does pull the plug on Ferrara, a new tactician is needed before Thursday’s Coppa Italia quarter-final with Inter.
Guus Hiddink was the main candidate, although a combination of wage demands and a reported snub from the Dutchman have seen him drop down the standings.
Former Juve star Michael Laudrup has offered himself up as caretaker manager, while Dino Zoff and Alberto Zaccheroni could fulfil the same role.
A more long-term option would be ex-Barcelona Coach Frank Rijkaard.
www.juvefc.com
Del Piero: «It is ceratainly a very bad moment»
He scored a great goal and kept up the tradition of goals against Roma and yet it was not enough. Alessandro Del Piero did not manage to celebrate his incredible goal dur to the defeat suffered which hurts deeply: «It is ceratainly a very bad moment. We are in great difficultyand have to re-think our objectives. Perhaps, we did not deserve to lose but certain episodes have put us into a tricky situation. It is a very delicate situation. We have certain alibis such as the injuries but all of us must take the responsibility of this situation. We can do better and the two goals we conceded today could have been avoided».
Perhaps Juventus did not deserve to lose today: «Today’s match saw Roma waiting to hit us on the counter-attack. In the first half we were clever enough to avoid this. We held well and we even constructed opportunities. In the seocnd half towards the end we conceded a bit more and we paid heavily for it».
www.juventus.com
Ferrara: «We deserved better»
Ciro Ferrara is forced to comment another defeat, which compared to the previous ones showed something different. The Juventus coach in fact commented in this manner: «For what the boys showed on the field, will, determination and temperament, we deserved better».
Unfortunately this was not the case. Asked whether he is sorry with regards to the mistakes by individuals which saw Roma win on a comeback, Ferrara answered: «Apart from the value of the players, when the moment is a difficult one, it is normal that one makes mistakes». He added: «When Buffon was sent-off we weren’t well placed for instance».
After the match, the team remained in the dressing rooms with the coach: «I tried to say a few words to the team in this delicate moment, to evaluate the situation, but nothing more – he stated -. It is a very delicate moment, useless hiding that, a period during which sometimes we deserved to lose, others not, the pity is that we are lagging behind in the table».
Ferrara, however, tried to look at the future, confiding in the team: «This group has strength, character and personality to overcome this moment. It showed this even tonight. They must be strong men and they are».
www.juventus.com
Ferrara: «We must change course»
The match against Roma is around the corner, but during the press conference held on the eve of the match, the interest of the journalists was not so much on the technical aspects of the match. The rumours of other coaches who are candidates for the Juventus bench, the distant duel between Ferrara and Ranieri and the sacking of the current Roma caoch were the topics on which Ferrara was interviewed mostly.
Training behind closed doors
«Juventus is one of the few teams that allows people to watch the training sessions but this week I wanted to have a bit of privacy. In recent years the doors were always open but in certain circumstances the coach might feel the necessity to try something without giving an ulterior advantage to his opponents and to work solely with the team».
The meeting with the management
«It was a serene one and several aspects were analysed always with the common objective of coming out of this sitaution».
The statement by Hiddink’s agent about contact with Juventus
«I believe more in the words of the President who repeatedly told me he had made no contact at all. It is not the first time that agents and coaches make certain statements. Surely, I would have never refused such an offer... In this situation anybody can take advantage to sponsor somebody or other. It is spoke about every day of how Ferrara’s bench is at risk and who could replace him, sometimes perhaps unfairly. Even if there were contacts witha coach or other it wouldn’t matter».
Ranieri’s sacking last year
«I was a Juventus player for many years and when I stopped playing I began my career as the person responsible of the Youth Sector and today I am the Juventus coach. What I care about is that the team reaches certain levels. I think nobody could ever think that in that circumstance I was aspiring for the bench. I remember when I was called for the last two matches. My name had been mentioned but I did not wish Ranieri harm. It is not in my character to do so. Obviosly, I was happy when they called me. There were rumours that I had spoken badly of Ranieri but this is not the case and I am sorry that this sort of news was diffused. I saw what happened to Ranieri from the outside since I was taking care of other things and therefore I have no idea what went on in the dressing rooms and what Ranieri’s relations with the management were like. I will have the chance to see him on Saturday and I will say hello in a cordial manner. Don’t forget that he was my coach in naples and I think we have a mutual respectful relationship. Surely, I have nothing to clarify or justify myself for. I was involved only by others and I do not want this match to be seen as some sort of duel between me and Ranieri. Surely, on his part there will be a bit of heart feelings but neither me nor him will be playing. It is the players who will be on the field to play in such a delicate match».
Candreva
«If he was signed by Juventus it is because he showed great quality. He has a clear mind and I tried to explain to him that wearing this jersey is important and difficulty especially for a youngster. We also spoke of technical aspects and he seems to know football. He can interpret various roles and has already done so with livorno: against us he played as trequartista but against Napoli he was fielded in front of the defence. He can also play on the inside and I tried him out in that position. I don’t think he would unbalance us because technically he is also ready for phases without ball possession and sacrifice. He times his exits well and is capable of playing in 3-strong midfield».
Sissoko
«Momo is ready to play. The important thing is that he does not have problems. He overcame the problem he had and is available. He is important for immense physical strength and also for the intensity he puts into training. He is of a stimulus to the whole group».
The match against the giallorossi
«Roma is going through an excellent moment, but I prefer playing against these type of teams who play with enthusiasm. We want to interrupt their positive streak. We must try to get back on track and return to running without looking at the table. It is difficult to do so seeing that the margin is even greater at the moment. This should be an ulterior motive».
Juventus and Roma: two different trails
«I did not bother with looking at the trail of the opponents but certainly I would not have expected such an important change of tendency on our part. I knew we would have encountered certain difficulties, but not to this extent».
Toni reborn with Roma
«Football is strange: there are players for whom it is enough to change place and immediatley they do better. Toni is an example just like Tiago (who scored his first goal for Atletico Madrid), to whom I send my best regards».
www.juventus.com
Bettega: «We are counting on the return of the injured players»
In the dressing rooms area of the Bentegodi, it was Roberto Bettega who spoke in the name of the management. The deputy director general analyzed the match and confirmed faith in Ferrara and the squad.
Bettega did not try to hide behind the injuries alibi but never like in Verona were certain absences felt: «These are matches you lose as a team, not as one , two or three persons. They have a greater fighting spirit and are more physical. They area team who play long balls and run. They were very clever not to play the match. Conscious of the pitch conditions and the physical aspect they played on these levels and they won. We are without Iaquinta, Amauri, Sissoko, Camoranesi, Trezeguet and at this moment we cannot play physically. Besides the injuries, we are having alternate performances and we are finding it difficult to adapt to the way in which the opponent faces the match. If Milan came out of their presumed crisis through faith in the players and the coach we will also try to do the same. We hope that soon we will have back certain important players who will give us more physical power which we need. Acting on the transfer market? I don’t think so because we have important players. Our transfer market will be recovering them».
www.juventus.com
Chiellini: «I can’t understand what is going wrong»
Even the toughest of all left the field visibly disappointed after the defeat against Chievo. Giorgio Chiellini, a lion heart, could not help expressing the great disappointment felt.
«It is true we have many injured players but it is not an alibi. We cannot hide behind the absentees. We are not managing to create, we are conceding a bit too much. We were not lucky but we did not create enough. I can’t understand what is going wrong. We are putting in all we can but we are not managing to create. Now we have a few days to recover and on Saturday even I will be in a different spirit».
Some argue that Juventus are at the moment not capable of registering two consecutive victories: «I think that the truth is that the difference between the matches against Parma and Milan was very small. Against Napoli we played really well and we wanted to repeat this today. We did not manage to do this and they worked in a better way then us. We never managed to hurt them, shoot at goal and create opportunities. I don’t know what is going wrong. I hope we manage to see the light at the end of this tunnel which at the moment is really hard».
Are the players unmotivated?: «We have objectives. If anything we want to qualify for the Champions League which today seems to be already hard enough. Therefore we are not unmotivated and besides we never like making fools of ourselves».
www.juventus.com
Buffon: «There is no answer to this moment»
He was hoping to return from injury with a victory but this was not the case and Gianluigi Buffon was obviously very disappointed like all at Juventus: «It is not what we I was hoping for but one must evaluate the moment and the performance we gave because with such a performance we could not have brought home anything better. In order to try and win something, quality and consistency are important and at this moment we are not managing this. The only consistency we have is that of bad results and this is even worse».
So what is going wrong?: «There is no answer to this moment. Perhaps when you play an away match such as this you can concede a few chances but what is not good is that we do not manage to disrupt the opponents’ tactics and defence. This means that they gain confidence and create even more problems for us».
www.juventus.com
Rumour Mill Roundup
Juventus are hustling the market for a cocktail of midfielders as Roberto Bettega and Alessio Secco get to work on fortifying the squad.
Il Corriere Dello Sport claims that Atalanta's Tiberio Guarente, Genoa's Alberto Zapater, and Udinese ace Gaetano D'Agostino have come increasingly piqued the Bianconeri's interest.
Coach Ciro Ferrara has reverted to a 4-4-2 system, leading to speculation he needs extra midfielders. An injury to Mauro Camoranesi, Mohammed Sissoko's absence as well as Paolo De Ceglie's lack of spark has seen the club turn the focus on bringing in new players.
The impression is that Juve are likely to land at least one midfielder in January to offer a degree of cover, before restructuring plans for a full on summer transfer campaign.
Lazio's Pasquale Foggia and Valencia's Joaquin as well as Aleksandar Kolarov and Davide Lanzafame are all names the have been connected with the Old Lady.
www.yahoosport.com
Report: Hiddink already in Italy
There are unconfirmed reports that Guus Hiddink has been spotted on Italian soil, fuelling speculation he’ll replace Ciro Ferrara at Juventus.
The current Russia manager has been pinpointed as the successor to Ferrara following the costly Champions League elimination.
Russian newspapers claim the club has offered £8m per season to walk away from his current job, while according to Tuttosport Hiddink is already in Italy.
Reports suggest the Dutchman was spotted at Milan’s Malpensa airport in the last few hours and went on to a meeting with the Bianconeri directors.
If Juventus lose in Parma on Wednesday, then Ferrara is likely to be axed with immediate effect, bringing in Hiddink ahead of the crunch showdown with Milan next weekend.
However, if Hiddink is not able to free himself from Russia that quickly, then a stop-gap measure could be introduced to see out the season.
Alberto Zaccheroni, Claudio Gentile and even current Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni are candidates.
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Chiellini: «The break was useful»
He trained even during the Christmas holidays. He did so out of his own accord, at home, to recover completely from the muscle injury suffered against Inter which made him miss the last matches of 2009. Now Chiellini is ready and speaks of the imminent return to official matches, while saying that the first few days of the new year saw the team working with great commitment and concentration. «The Christmas break was useful not only for me to recovery from the injury, but for all the team. We recovered energy and faith. Now we need results, which in such moments help the team to find the security and cohesion of some time ago. Everybody is giving his 110% to overcome the difficult moment».
Parma will be the first test for the team, a match which is far from easy: «Parma is undoubtedly the revelation of the year – stated Chiellini. They are fighting for a place in the Champions League, have a good squad and a coach that makes the team render to the maximum. They play well and have a good mix of youngsters and experienced players».
It is a commitment which Juventus will be facing with the conviction and will to get back immediately to what they always were: «We are going to Parma – concluded Chiellini – to win and first of all to be a team, to show on the field that we regained that compactness and that solidity which are the trademark of Juventus»
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