Post by Salem6 on Jan 29, 2004 10:42:30 GMT
ROME: Juventus’ defence, the cornerstone on which their last two league title successes were built, is starting to show cracks.
The Old Lady’s once miserly rearguard has leaked 21 goals in 18 Serie A matches this season, the last three coming in Sunday’s 3-3 draw away to fourth-from-bottom Empoli.
It’s perhaps not enough to set off the alarm bells in Turin with the title-holders lying only three points behind league leaders Roma, but the goals against column makes for some worrying reading for coach Marcello Lippi.
Juve, who have let in 13 goals more than both Roma and second-placed AC Milan, conceded 29 goals last season and just 23 in the campaign before.
With 16 more games left to play, Lippi needs to shore up his fragile defence or their bid for a third consecutive Scudetto will fall short.
But the cigar-smoking 55-year-old, who has guided Juve to a total of five Italian championships, believes the defenders are not the only ones to blame for the team’s uncharacteristic generosity.
“I don’t see the same kind of determination that everybody used to show in protecting the goal,” he said.
“When we are defending there seems to be a lack of concentration and we are not as ruthless as were in the past.
“It’s nothing to do with the players we have, it’s more a question of attitude. It’s a mental problem.
“We have been fortunate that we are still in a good position in the table, but we need to be careful. Everyone needs to start putting in the effort.”
Juve’s defence on Sunday, which stood in front of Italy’s finest goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon, included three players over 30 – France international Lilian Thuram, Mark Iuliano and Uruguayan hardman Paolo Montero.
Many argue that Juve’s defence needs some fresh new faces, but Lippi’s faith in the old guard is unyielding and he refuses to be panicked into splashing out in the transfer market this month.
“We already have nine defenders at the club. There will be no new signings this month because we don’t need them,” he said.
Lippi may be right, but time is catching up on many of the players who have served him so well in the past such as Ciro Ferrara, Montero and Thuram.
And with just one defender of the nine at his disposal under the age of 29 – Italy international Nicola Legrottagle – Lippi will soon have to ring the changes or the cornerstone may start to crumble. – AFP
www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2004/1/29/sports/7198802&sec=sports
The Old Lady’s once miserly rearguard has leaked 21 goals in 18 Serie A matches this season, the last three coming in Sunday’s 3-3 draw away to fourth-from-bottom Empoli.
It’s perhaps not enough to set off the alarm bells in Turin with the title-holders lying only three points behind league leaders Roma, but the goals against column makes for some worrying reading for coach Marcello Lippi.
Juve, who have let in 13 goals more than both Roma and second-placed AC Milan, conceded 29 goals last season and just 23 in the campaign before.
With 16 more games left to play, Lippi needs to shore up his fragile defence or their bid for a third consecutive Scudetto will fall short.
But the cigar-smoking 55-year-old, who has guided Juve to a total of five Italian championships, believes the defenders are not the only ones to blame for the team’s uncharacteristic generosity.
“I don’t see the same kind of determination that everybody used to show in protecting the goal,” he said.
“When we are defending there seems to be a lack of concentration and we are not as ruthless as were in the past.
“It’s nothing to do with the players we have, it’s more a question of attitude. It’s a mental problem.
“We have been fortunate that we are still in a good position in the table, but we need to be careful. Everyone needs to start putting in the effort.”
Juve’s defence on Sunday, which stood in front of Italy’s finest goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon, included three players over 30 – France international Lilian Thuram, Mark Iuliano and Uruguayan hardman Paolo Montero.
Many argue that Juve’s defence needs some fresh new faces, but Lippi’s faith in the old guard is unyielding and he refuses to be panicked into splashing out in the transfer market this month.
“We already have nine defenders at the club. There will be no new signings this month because we don’t need them,” he said.
Lippi may be right, but time is catching up on many of the players who have served him so well in the past such as Ciro Ferrara, Montero and Thuram.
And with just one defender of the nine at his disposal under the age of 29 – Italy international Nicola Legrottagle – Lippi will soon have to ring the changes or the cornerstone may start to crumble. – AFP
www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2004/1/29/sports/7198802&sec=sports