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Del Piero: 'Better for Juve to face Bayern now!'
“I’m looking around, but I don’t want to do a coaching course at the moment”.
“I think it’s a bit early to start giving Juventus tips. A lot of things can change in two months. I think that having so much time to prepare the game will be important. In any case, it’s better to meet a team like Bayern now in the Round of 16 than later on in the season. Juventus have everything they need to do well at home against the Bundesliga giants, the stadium and the crowd are a factor and they can give the team a decisive push. There are ways of preparing for this game from a psychological perspective, too, and cover all the bases”.
Are Inter and Juve the two title favourites?
“The old rivalry is rearing its head again, but I wouldn’t forget the other teams that are beyween them. Roma have all they need to fight it out till the very end, they surprised everyone by drawing at Napoli when they were going through the ringer. They’ve picked themselves up in the league again, despite their Coppa Italia elimination (to Spezia).
Napoli play the most entertaining football, alongside Roma. I’d back them ahead of Fiorentina, though the next few months will confirm whether they have the consistency to stay at the top. There is no doubt that their football are a wonderful force in Serie A this season. Losing to Torino was par for the course, when the Bianconeri give 100% they can beat anyone, a misstep can’t possibly ruin months of progress. They’ve been a surprise so far, let’s see how things pan out in the long run”.
On Serie A’s competitiveness on the international stage, and this year’s very open Scudetto Race
"There’s a lot of competition between Italy’s teams, and we must be proud of that. The Serie A is different from what it was a few years ago: the first and the second best players in the world don’t play, and may never play in Serie A every again. Maybe we won’t even be able to attract the third or the fourth players either. That said we have a pleasant, hard-fought. The problem isn’t so much that we’ve stopped growing, but that the other leagues have kept growing”.
Then again, it’s hard to stay at the top, as those behind you have an incentive to study and improve. It’s what has happened to our rival European leagues. Beyond the difference in budgets between clubs – which are undeniable and carry weight - we’ll have to work hard just to catch up”.
Who is Juventus’ iconic player?
“I think the club is still looking for one, at least with regards to the future. Right now the old guard is fundamental, even when it comes to giving the team some personality: Buffon, Chiellini, Marchisio, and then Bonucci and Barzagli. At the moment they’re the difference-makers, those who carry the team”.
On giving Paul Pogba the No.10 shirt
“I don’t know, I know that Paul is a player with great talents. If we think of the No.10 as the man who needs to wow people with his plays, Paul fits that perfectly, because he’s done it many times before. He’s got those great moments in him, those that a star, a key protagonist needs to have".
“Then again, being a Number 10 isn’t limited to the technical aspect, the definition also includes other responsibilities, it’s a more complicated, structured role. But Paul can get there, but he needs to be allowed the time to try”.
