Socrates

Mancini: Juventus team to beat Oct 16, 2014 Roberto Mancini believes Juventus are still the team to beat for anyone looking to claim the Scudetto. The former Inter Coach left Galatasaray in the summer, and was this week linked with a possible Serie A return on the Bologna bench. The 49-year-old did not address the speculation, but did give his thoughts on the Serie A title race. “Juve remain the team to beat,” Mancini has told La Stampa. “If Roma had equalised in Turin it would have been deserved. Roma were matching Juventus, even on a physical level. Juve have the strength of their recent victories, but it remains undecided.” Many have suggested that the strength of Juventus and Roma, coupled with the poor starts made by their rivals means the Scudetto is a two-horse race. Mancini, however, does not see it that way. “I think Napoli will soon be challenging at the top. They could well have their say in the title challenge. “The Milan clubs? Inter have good foundations, all they need is time to find a balance and start getting results. Clearly some players have been below par. “As for Milan, Inzaghi is a leader. The players are following him, and he’s brought confidence back, a combination which will definitely be good in the long-run.”

Juventus Moving Towards Renewal Of Wingback’s Contract Oct 16, 2014 Juventus look set to tie up Swiss defender Stefan Lichsteiner to a contract extension as a meeting is scheduled for the end of the month. The former Lille full-back is only contracted to the Bianconeri until the end of this season, but both parties seem keen to extend that deal. Sky Sport Italia report that Lichsteiner’s representative will meet those of Juventus towards the end of the month with the intention of securing a contract that will keep the 30 year old with the Vecchia Signora. Marko, Lichsteiner’s brother and lawyer, and Federico Pastorello, the player’s agent, are hoping to ensure another two years, which would see him stay at the Juventus Stadium until 2017. Lichtsteiner joined the Bianconeri from Lazio in 2011 and has made 96 appearances for the side, winning the Scudetto in each of his seasons with the club.

Everyone is against Juventus, says coach Massimiliano Allegri Oct 15, 2014 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said he has only just discovered how much anti-Juve sentiment there is in Italian football in the wake of his side's 3-2 win over Roma. The fallout to that game has disappointed the former Milan coach, who sees Italian football as the only real loser of the protracted debate. In an interview with Il Corriere della Sera, Allegri was critical of the culture in Italy, saying the game is only becoming so bad because people continue to make it that way. "The thing that did the most damage to Italian football was that all the talk has been about the incidents and little has been said about the actual game," Allegri said. "Technically, it was a good, intense and pretty game to watch, yet there's been total silence on that. "In Italy, people are always keen to highlight the bad things. Everybody says 'Italian football's rubbish,' but nobody does anything to improve it. Everybody says 'Italian referees are the worst' and then we see an Italian referee in the World Cup final. When we go abroad and dubious penalties are given, we keep our mouths shut, but it's not like that when it happens in Italy." According to Allegri, there is a culture of negativity which is preventing the Italian game from evolving. He said that Juve is everybody's favourite victim. "We need to appreciate all the good moves more and start to appreciate them, otherwise everything becomes an excuse," he continued. "The decisions referee Rocchi made have been blown out of all proportion just because it was Juve-Roma. If they had happened in a lesser game, nobody would have cared. "Because of this, a great performance by Juventus against a fantastic Roma side with an extraordinary player in Totti all got lost. There are 50 million football fans in Italy, 12 of which support Juve and the others support Milan, Inter, Roma and so on. But they all are against Juve and it's only now that I'm realising that." Allegri did not care to follow the days of diatribe that followed the top-of-the-table clash nearly a fortnight ago. Instead, he has been spending time with his family and improving his English. Before returning to management with Juve less than six months after being relieved of his duties as Milan coach, Allegri spent several months in England, not only learning the language but also appreciating a different culture which opened his eyes. "I had to go live in Leeds because there are too many Italians in London," said the 47-year-old. "It was positive to see their league because it helped me to understand a few things. "The game's not as spectacular as it's made out to be, but what does make it so beautiful is the atmosphere, the people. You'd never find a young kid being told to cover his Tevez shirt [like a young child who was refused access to Atalanta's home clash with Juve until he covered his shirt] over there. That would be out of this world. "Once, I was giving my daughter a driving lesson and we ended up outside the San Siro. With all the gates, barriers and metal fencing -- I'd never go to a place like that as an ordinary fan."

Pogba: 'I'll be best in the world' Oct 15, 2014 Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba said his “aim is to become the best player in the world” after a FIFA award. The France international picked up the Hyundai Young Player award for his part in the 2014 World Cup during the Paris Motor Show today. “I’m very proud to receive this award and it was an honour for me to play in the World Cup,” the 21-year-old told FIFA.com. “I can’t predict what’s going to happen in the future, but I’m going to do all I can to win even more trophies. “I’m going to keep on working hard. My aim is to become the best player in the world.”

Del Neri: Roma, Juve unreachable Oct 15, 2014 Former Juventus and Roma Coach Luigi Del Neri believes the battle for the Scudetto is between the two, whilst he talks over the Bianconeri’s tactics. The 64-year-old, who coached the Giallorossi in 2004-05 and had an difficult spell on the Juventus bench, leading the Bianconeri to seventh in 2011, can’t see beyond the two for this year’s title. “Juventus and Roma have great sides,” Del Neri has told Roma Radio today. “Inter have problems with the atmosphere at the club, then there are Fiorentina, Milan, Napoli and Lazio. Juventus and Roma are unreachable.” Del Neri also evaluated the fortunes of Italian clubs in the Champions League, and believes Roma’s four-man defence is more suited to top-level European football than the back three of Juventus. “European football is very standardised. It seems to me that 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 are the most common formations. “There’s always a four-man defence, with very deep full-backs. I think that in that football you have great flexibility and can withstand players better one-on-one. “In a three-man defence you not only have to help in defence, but also in attack. When you’re defending it becomes five defenders. “I think it's difficult to impose yourself with a three-man defence, you leave too much space between the lines. “As long as the wing-backs do their job, they [Juve] can do both phases. But if the running isn't there, you have problems. “Will Allegri continue with the three-man defence? I think Massimiliano has accepted the thinking of another Coach [Conte], and at the moment it's useless changing Juventus. “In the long-run I think he will see if the two wing-backs can maintain the same intensity, or take some of the strain off of them by adopting a back four. “Ultimately it’s down to the ability of the players. If they keep performing as they have been, the formation will not change. “Why change something which Conte has built so well, and which has brought great results? Allegri has shown intelligence and quality, he hasn’t upset the balance of the team.”

Allegri: There is no Vidal case Oct 15, 2014 Max Allegri says there is no case with Arturo Vidal, whilst it is too early to suggest the title race is only between Juventus and Roma. Juve’s international break has been hit by growing speculation over Vidal’s future at the club, following reports on why he was left out of the starting line-up against Roma in Week 6. For his Coach, though, there is no issue to focus so much attention on. “First, against Roma he has been left out because, with the return of Pirlo, I needed a more tactical player, Marchisio,” Allegri has looked to explain today to the Corriere della Sera. “Every now and then the guys do something stupid. They need to understand when they afford it and especially now, with mobile phones, photographers everywhere. “Under the aspect of training and the intensity of Arturo, there is nothing to say. There is no case with Vidal.” Allegri, who also complained of a negative approach from Italians to their football, also considered his philosophy at Juve. “The idea is to have good players that can allow you to win games. I do not like to provide many points of reference nor remove the creativity of the players. “And on this there should be a broader discourse, talking about the youth sector. “You cannot hold kids to two hours on a 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 3-5-2, as they will lose the passion. The Coaches should not teach, they should train themselves. “Who has impressed me the most? Marchisio.” The team are facing a shortage of players in defence, with Andrea Barzagli and Martin Caceres out for a month each with injury. “Ogbonna has done very well. We will recover Marrone, and on the edge Lichtsteiner can be a third. Or we can play with four at the back.” It was put to Allegri that in spite of being only six weeks into the season, the title race is already just between the Old Lady and Roma. “Milan have only lost to us, Inter I did not expect to be in difficulty, but they are a very good team and will come out in the long run, as will Napoli and Fiorentina. “It is not yet nor will it be just Juve-Roma. There needs to be balance. We lost in Madrid, and if the same had happened against Roma, what would have happened? The value of the team is not lost in a week. “Juve in Europe? Let’s talk at the end. If in Madrid it had ended 0-0 we would be talking about great personality. “We played the right game, conceding on the only error. Certainly we have room for improvement.”

Italian football isn't rubbish, says Allegri The 47-year-old believes too much attention is paid to controversial refereeing decisions in Serie A and has slammed the league's detractors. Oct 15, 2014 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has denied that Italian football is in terminal decline, arguing that its positives are always overlooked. Serie A teams have performed badly in Europe of late, with the Bianconeri failing to reach the last 16 of the Champions League last term. However, Allegri feels that people focus too much on controversial incidents - such as the ones which plagued his side's recent 3-2 win over Roma - and fail to recognise the good work players put in. "In Italy, they always show you the less good things. Everybody says: 'Italian football is rubbish', but nobody does anything about the good stuff. "Everyone says: 'Italian referees are the worst'. Then we have them officiating the World Cup final. Italian teams concede questionable penalties abroad and stay calm. "What does harm to Italian football is that everyone talks about incidents and not the game. The game itself was good, intense, great to watch. "You have to appreciate the play more and evaluate it, otherwise everything becomes an excuse. "The decisions of Rocchi came into focus because it was Juve-Roma. Nobody cares about that in a game of a lower level. "So we lose a great Juventus performance against Roma, a great team with a great player in Francesco Totti." Allegri went on to say that he now realises the full extent of how badly people view Juventus within Italy. "In Italy, there are 50 million fans: 12 million support Juventus, the rest are of AC Milan, Inter, Roma and so on. But they are all against Juventus. I see that now."

How short of a leash should Fernando Llorente get going forward this season? Oct 14, 2014 By merely looking at the simplest of stats, one could surmise the difference in success when it comes to Juventus' two main strikers, Carlos Tévez and Fernando Llorente. In one corner, there's Tévez who has eight goals in seven games in all competitions. In the other, Llorente — who trailed only Tévez in the goals scored column last season — is still searching for any kind of consistent and positive form to write home about. It certainly has been a change of fortune for Llorente in his second season. Once he got consistent playing time last year, the rust from so much inactivity at Athletic Bilbao during his final season in Spain seemingly shook off like a dog after a run through the rain. Instead, this season has been anything but your favorite pooch drenching you while he shakes his fur off. Nah, it's more than just that. I bring all of this up because we don't know when Llorente will snap out of his funk. We don't know if he will open up his scoring account this weekend or four weeks from now. And surely, neither does Max Allegri. How long does Allegri continue to trot out Llorente? Or, better yet, how much longer should Allegri continue to trot out Llorente before making some kind of move and changing what has been Juventus' starting striker partnership for the last 12 months? The decision, at least in the short term, is certainly a little easier with Álvaro Morata suspended for the next two games Sassuolo game because of his little spat with Roma defender Kostas Manolas in the second half of Juve's 3-2 win over their closest competition in Serie A. Between the two of them, I'm pretty sure we can determine who has been the better player, even though the sample size for Morata is much smaller than that of his fellow Spaniard. But when it comes to Llorente, the simple numbers aren't that pretty. Not one bit. Llorente has gone nearly 400 minutes this season (WhoScored has him at 402, for what it's worth) without scoring a goal in Serie A. In those 397 minutes played — spanning over six games (five starts, one sub appearance) — he has put just three shots on target. Three, people, three shots. That's it. Just as a comparison, Morata has played over 300 fewer minutes than Llorente and has put four shots on frame, including his first Juventus goal against Atalanta over two weeks ago. That kind of production is, hmmmm, not what we were expecting coming into this season. The Llorente projection thread back at the end of July was full of optimism and talk of lots of goals. Not that six games into the season is the be-all, end-all when it comes to evaluating a player's season, but it's nowhere what many of us thought Llorente would do this season. Instead of leading the line and scoring goals like he did a year ago, he's watched Tévez score goals at a frantic pace to begin the season. While, in turn, his form has been nothing close to last year. The reality of what has happened with Llorente: The complete opposite of what we expected. It's natural for players to go through ebbs and flows during a season, dealing with patches of struggles and rich veins of form. And maybe that's why when I think about Llorente's starting status I'm a more little hesitant to pull the plug faster than some American television networks with their news shows that have been premiering in the states over these last few weeks. We know what kind of striker Llorente can be when everything is clicking. We've seen it with our own two eyes last season. He not only scores goals, but he makes Tévez — or whomever is playing alongside him — that much better with his hold-up play and ability to pass the ball with flicks and the rest of his diverse arsenal. But what we have seen this season is nothing close to what we saw in Llorente's first season in bianconero. And at some point, you have to think that the prospect of Morata, a different kind of prima punta to Llorente, starting will cross Allegri's if it hasn't already. He's like the brand new car that has barely had the chance to be driven since being purchased a couple of months ago. Something is going to change — whether it's Morata in the starting lineup or Llorente finding the back of the net. It's an either/or situation, because it's pretty easy to figure out if one those takes place, the other one won't.

Platini: TV replays bad for game Oct 14, 2014 UEFA President Michel Platini has laughed off Juventus-Roma controversy, but is sternly against television replays assisting match officials. The fall-out from the match in Turin has seen the debate over assisting referees with slow-motion replays reach a new height, with FIGC President Carlo Tavecchio contacting FIFA on the point. However, for UEFA’s chief, the controversy from Week 6’s match must be taken in context. “It’s the same old story that Juve are always favoured, or that whoever wins is because they are favoured by referees. It’s always been like this,” Platini is quoted as saying by ANSA. “I did not even see Juventus-Roma, neither have I seen the images of the [bonucci] goal. I've heard a lot of things about it, but it’s always the same. “Of course I remember those challenges [involving Juve]. The title was between two fine teams, but we did not need the referee to win.” The Euro 1984 champion also touched on the ‘evils’ that slow-motion video replays would bring about if they were ever introduced into football.​ “Of all the evils, slow motion replays in football would be a disaster. All this would stem the flow of the game, so it wouldn’t be a good thing for its future,” Platini added. “Nonetheless, it’s the International Board’s decision - not Tavecchio’s, nor mine. But I hope that no-one ever introduces it for the sake of football.”

Everton, Saints eye Asamoah Oct 14, 2014 Tuttosport reiterate that clubs from England are following Juventus’ Kwadwo Asamoah and now list Everton and Southampton. It was suggested heading into the October international break that the Ghana utility man was being monitored by clubs in the Premier League and from Ligue 1, namely Paris Saint-Germain. Whilst believed in response to the player’s unhappiness at increased competition for game-time from Patrice Evra, Tuttosport indicated that there was little chance of Juve selling the 25-year-old. However, the Turin publication today reiterates that interest remains in Asamoah and they specifically list Everton and Southampton. Even so, Juve are again seen as unlikely to be open to a January sale, particularly with contractual uncertainty continuing with both Stephan Lichtsteiner and Sebastian Giovinco, who may have to exit that same month.

Argentina will 'certainly call Tevez' Oct 13, 2014 Argentina Coach Gerardo Martino revealed Juventus striker Carlos Tevez “will certainly be called up soon.” He had been frozen out of the international scene by previous tactician Alejandro Sabella, but the new boss has other ideas. “Tevez is doing very well,” Martino told Tyc in Argentina. “He is one of the many players we are tracking. He will certainly be called up soon.” Tevez has scored eight goals in seven games for Juve this season between Serie A and Champions League.

10 Reasons Why Juventus Are Not to Blame for the Controversy in Serie A Oct 13, 2014 The issue of match-fixing in Italian football continues to be a highly sensitive one in the wake of the Calciopoli scandal of 2006. The scandal involved several clubs, but Juventus were the harshest punished, the peninsula's most popular team. After a forced relegation and a year spent in Serie B, the Old Lady of Italian football spent a number of years fighting to become a major force once more. in 2014, Juventus are well and truly a force in Italian football once more, having won three consecutive league titles. Following a controversial 3-2 win over the previously undefeated Roma in Round 6, in which several key refereeing decisions went the Bianconeri's way, Francesco Totti raised the spectre of match-fixing once more. The Roma captain made the following comments to Sky Italia (via Joe Ridge of the Daily Mail): Juventus ought to have their own league, as by hook or by crook they always win. Are we back to the same doubts? I am not the only one saying this, as these are things everyone in Italy should discuss. With Juventus when there is any doubt whatsoever, it’s always a penalty. I have to stop now, as if I keep talking then I’ll get suspended. Totti was right to be angry as Roma appeared to be very harshly done in by being in the top-of-the-table clash, but his insinuations that there was something untoward going on were uncalled for. Here are 10 reasons why Juventus are not to be blamed for the controversy. They Would Never Dare Try It Again The fallout from Calciopoli caused years of despair for everyone involved with Juventus. Not only were they punished on the pitch, but the reputation of the club also suffered immensely. Even when they fought their way back to Serie A, it took years for the side to return to the forefront of Italian football. To risk getting involved in another controversy such a short time later would be on the verge of madness. Referees Themselves Would Not Take the Risk Not only would it be foolhardy for Juventus to get involved with any bribing of match officials, it would be ludicrous for referees themselves to engage in any dodgy dealings. Having seen how deep the probing from prosecutors went back in 2006, there is no way a referee currently plying his trade in Serie A would think it a good idea to get involved with any such activities in 2014. Phone records and other forms of communication are easily accessed by law enforcement agencies, as Calciopoli showed, so nobody in their right mind would put themselves at risk nowadays. The Players Themselves Cannot Be Held Responsible in Any Case Even during Calciopoli, there was never any suggestion that the players themselves had any involvement. It was understandable, then, that squad members from that era are still vehement that they won those Scudetti on the pitch. When Totti or others infer that the current Juventus side are receiving too many favours, they are in no way implying that the team members themselves have anything to do with it. Referees Make Mistakes All the Time As the old adage goes, referees are human too. Like players, they make mistakes sometimes. Just because a ref gets a decision wrong does not mean there was ill intent behind it or that he was being influenced by outside forces. Often fans focus on the calls that went against their own team but conveniently forget those that fell their way. It's one of the reasons there are such passionate debates after each round of action. Just because supporters (or players, in Totti's case) from other clubs think Juventus get all the decisions going their way, it doesn't mean that is necessarily the case. Roma Were Awarded a Penalty in the Game in Question One pertinent argument against biased refereeing in the recent Juventus-Roma clash was that Roma themselves were awarded a penalty in the first half. The penalty was duly converted by Totti to make the score 1-1. Juan Iturbe then found the net to give Roma the advantage, before a second Carlos Tevez penalty made it 2-2 and Leonardo Bonucci scored the winner for the Bianconeri late in the game. If the referee had been intent on Juve winning the match, he surely wouldn't have made his own task more difficult by giving Roma the leg up of a first-half spot-kick. In General, the Bigger the Team, the More Decisions Go Their Way Ask many fans in England who referees favour and anyone who is not a Red Devils fan will likely mention Manchester United. Similarly, supporters of anyone, bar Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain, will tell you those teams receive many advantages from match officials. The same goes with Boca Juniors and River Plate in Argentina. This could in part be because the giant clubs are the ones opposition supporters most love to hate. But it may also be based on an unconscious favouritism that match officials show the bigger sides. When it comes to making split-second decisions, perhaps there is something in the referees' minds that tell them to make the call that will cause them the least amount of hassle in the aftermath of the game. Clubs with the most supporters also tend to have the most cheerleaders in the media. A 50-50 call that goes against a Bayern Munich or a Juventus is always going to be greeted with an uproar during the week, and that could be something which affects the way those calls are handled, even if it is not intentional. Juventus Are a Different Club Now That Moggi Has Gone The main protagonist of the Calciopoli scandal was former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi. There was a great deal of evidence against Moggi collected by prosecutors, and he was on the receiving end of a lifetime ban from football. As a result, he was obviously excluded from any involvement with the Bianconeri from that point onward and does not have any influence over Italian football at present. Others Are Quick to See Controversies Whenever Juventus Are Involved It is understandable that Juventus are often the first club accused of nefarious activities by others when debatable incidents occur on the pitch. Juve's sporting director, Giuseppe Marotta, made that very point following Totti's comments: I have great respect for Totti as a player. It’s understandable that he’s upset about the result but what he said was unacceptable. In the past Juve have had to bear the brunt for others' mistakes, but when the team has won it has won legitimately and deservingly from a footballing point of view. Every year Juventus are accused of being favoured in dubious or unclear situations, but I believe that these decisions even themselves out over the course of a season. When we won the penalty it reminded me of the Juventus v Roma match that was played at the Olimpico in Turin. That year Roma got the decision and this year it was our turn to get a penalty. Juventus were promoted back to Serie A in 2007 and won their third successive title this year. Italians Love a Good Conspiracy There is a word in Italian, "dietrologia," which describes the tendency of Italians to always search for hidden meanings and conspiracies behind day-to-day goings-on. Though paranoia does not always exist without reason, the fact that such a word exists in the language indicates that the good people of the peninsula are always on the lookout for connivance, even when perhaps it does not exist. Juventus Are Simply the Strongest Team in Italy at Present Despite all the complaints from other Serie A sides about favouritism, it is very hard to argue that Juventus have not been the strongest team in Italy over the past few years. Napoli, Roma and Milan have all been competitive since Juve's reign at the top started, but none can claim to have had such a powerful side with the squad depth of the Bianconeri. Other Serie A outfits would dream of having the likes of Arturo Vidal, Carlos Tevez and Paul Pogba on their books. It is not that difficult to understand, then, how Antonio Conte's side won three titles in a row and how Massimiliano Allegri's team have a perfect record after six games this campaign. Conspiracy theories are not always needed to explain one side's dominance over the rest of the competition. Sometimes one side is just better than the rest.

Why Paul Pogba Should Be Manchester City's Top Transfer Target Oct 13, 2014 According to a report in The Times written by James Ducker, Manchester City are once again being linked with a move for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, a player many believe to be the natural heir to Yaya Toure’s throne. Pogba, who made his senior debut with Manchester United, has forged a reputation as one of the world’s best central midfield players since he moved to Serie A in 2012, winning two league titles and two Italian cups. His performances for France at this summer’s World Cup in Brazil further underlined his credentials, with a series of top-class performances confirming his position as one of the fastest-rising stars in the game. City, it seems, have highlighted Pogba as a top transfer target, and with 31-year-old Toure struggling to recreate his wonderful form of last season, where he scored 20 league goals and was voted the club’s Player of the Year, it makes sense for City to be monitoring the Frenchman’s situation. Pogba is the complete midfielder, full of pace, power, energy and an ability to drive forward and score goals. He’s perhaps the only player in Europe possessing the right mix attributes to replace Toure in this City side. The Ivorian is a force of nature on his day, a player capable of dominating a midfield battle and providing match-winning abilities, and City can’t afford to lose that facet of their game. So often last season during the club’s title win, Toure was the catalysts for three points, and finding a younger player capable of offering the same dynamism is no easy task. Pogba, it seems, is emerging as the club’s primary transfer target on the basis of being one of the very few young players considered to have the necessary tools to fill the void Toure will eventually leave. Pogba has hit 14 goals in 91 appearances at Juventus since leaving Old Trafford two years ago, and already has 18 caps for France. Alex Ferguson’s strange reluctance to give him a chance in the United midfield, which had been substandard for some time prior to his emergence as a potential first-team player, looks increasingly misguided the more he plays for the Turin giants. The one stumbling block is the homegrown quota. City’s next wave of recruitment seems certain to include players who tick the Premier League’s homegrown criteria, yet Pogba, despite his United links, appears to fall just short of fulfilling the measures. City know they need homegrown stars, and the club’s new academy, a state-of-the-art complex adjacent to the Etihad Stadium which opens in the next few weeks, is seen as the long-term solution to the problem. However, it will take time for the academy to bear fruit, and in the meantime City need an injection of homegrown stars. With Micah Richards, Joleon Lescott and Gareth Barry all having left in the summer transfer window, it has left City on the precipice of failing to comply with homegrown guidelines. Dedryck Boyata was subsequently offered a new deal despite his limited first-team chances, and with James Milner’s contract set to expire in June, the club need to act. Pogba, though, is too good to miss out on, regardless of his homegrown status. Like Toure, he can dictate proceedings. He can offer defensive solidity and attacking prowess. And he is improving all the time. Very few can replace Toure but he most certainly could.

Buffon critical of Totti Oct 13, 2014 Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon has criticised Roma’s Francesco Totti for his comments that Juventus ‘should have their own League’. The Giallorossi captain hit out at the Bianconeri following their 3-2 win in Week 6, which saw the capital club angered by some refereeing calls. For his Juve counterpart, there is no sympathy in why those statements may have been made. “Did I feel for Totti after Juve-Roma? I didn’t feel for him, I’m not interested in controversy when the game is over,” Buffon told RAI Sport. “Throughout my career I’ve won a lot, but I’ve also lost a lot. I finished third, fourth, and then seventh for two consecutive years, but I don’t think you’ve ever seen Buffon doing interviews in which he railed against someone or made inferences which aren’t good for anyone or for the image of our game.” Buffon, who is expected to win his 145th Italy cap against Malta tonight, also spoke about Mario Balotelli’s exclusion from Antonio Conte’s first two Italy squads. “He could return to the side. Mario is still young, and has years still ahead of him in his career. “Not only that, I don’t think that Conte has ever said that Mario will never be called up.”

The pros and cons of Andrea Pirlo's comeback to the Italian national team Oct 13, 2014 Once Antonio Conte became the Italian national team manager, Andrea Pirlo coming back to the Azzurri seemed like a formality. It wasn't a matter of 'if' there would be a return to international competition for the 35-year-old maestro, it was just a matter of when Conte would call him up and that would be that. That day came this time last weekend when Italy's squad for a pair of Euro 2016 qualifiers were released. Pirlo was there, just like people expected he would be after featuring against Roma just a few hours prior. No big deal, kinda ho-hum, actually, considering this whole coming out of international retirement wasn't a secret at all. "I talked to Conte, he asked if I was willing to return and I said yes. It was a tough decision, I wanted to leave the national team but the coach asked me to help and I'm glad I can do it." (Source: Gianluca Di Marzio) That was over a month ago when Pirlo decided that his international retirement would be as brief as Amauri's career with the Azzurri. Unless Conte threatened to bash Pirlo over the head with a frying pan if he didn't come back to the national team's setup, I'm just going to go ahead and figure that the conversation between the two of them was pretty understanding. And how is he feeling now that he's officially made his return to the national team? "Returning with an assist was fantastic, playing with this jersey is fantastic. We had the will to push forward after they tied the match, I'm very happy." (Source: Gianluca Di Marzio) But the main question still remains as Pirlo and his teammates prepare for a Euro 2016 qualifier against Malta is if Pirlo's comeback to the Azzurri will prove to be such a good thing. Let's discuss... Pro: More Pirlo, more beard, more fun to be had A lot of people loved Andrea Pirlo even before he came to Juventus. Even though he played for a team that resides in Milan and inhibits the San Siro, Pilro's class overruled the colors and the badge on his club's jersey. But since he signed on a free transfer in 2011 and decided to not shave a summer later, Pirlo has become a cult hero. Amazing what a beard and a chip of Joe Hart from the penalty spot can do, isn't it? Okay, so his pinpoint passes and wide array of free kick mastery has something to do with it, too. Who's in favor of having more chances to watch Pirlo on the biggest of stages? I'll drink to that. Con: Juventus' best playmaker in the midfield will be playing more minutes for Italy One of the biggest things that people didn't like when it came to Cesare Prandelli's handling of Pirlo was that whenever an international break rolled around, Pirlo was playing pretty much every minute possible. No matter who the opponent was, there was Pirlo, playing a ton of minutes and returning from the international break without having much of a break whatsoever. We know there's a noticeable difference between Rested Pirlo and one that plays hundreds of minuted each week, so there's no point in debating that further. You just have to wonder how playing so many minutes each and every week has an impact on a guy who will be 36 next year. Pro: Italy gets its regista back There is no doubting that Italy are a better team when Pirlo is on the field compared to when he isn't. When you list all of the midfielders that could be available to Conte the next time an international break arrives, Pirlo is going to be at the top of it. There's Daniele De Rossi, there's Pirlo, and then there's everybody else (not that the others are bad). And when it comes to who's running the show in the midfield, there's no doubting who that will be — Pirlo himself. So if Italy goes 3-5-2 during the next international break like they did this past one, I'm pretty sure who be in the center of the midfield running the show. His name is Andrea Pirlo, and he has one heck of a footballer. Con: More games played, more chances for injuries It's not just that his workload will be just that much heavier. There's also the chance of Pirlo getting hurt every single time he steps onto the field in an Italy jersey. You know, the same guy who just came back from a month on the sidelines. Obviously we've learned over the past six weeks that Juventus can survive without Pirlo because Claudio Marchisio is awesome and has adapted to the regista role quite nicely over the past half-season worth of games. But there's only one Pirlo, and every time he's hurt Pro: Antonio Conte will be his manager with the Azzurri If there's one manager in Italy who I trust more than pretty anybody to handle Pirlo, it's certainly Conte. Why do I say this? Because of this: Pirlo's rapport with Conte seems pretty darn good from here. I don't think Pirlo would have come out of his incredibly brief international retirement for just anybody. That pretty much verifies that the Pirlo-Conte relationship is pretty strong, and it hasn't been hurt all that much when the latter suddenly resigned back at the beginning of preseason training. Con: Pirlo will be 37 by the time the 2016 Euros roll around In theory, Pirlo won't be the oldest player on Italy's roster because of Gigi Buffon's presence. The reality would be that could very well be beavily relying on two players that are two of the oldest in the competition. Not that it's not impossible or a totally bad idea considering the class of both those two fellas, but it's hard to predict what kind of form both players will be in a year and a half from now. Unless you have a crystal ball and want to let me borrow it, which would be cool.

Buffon: This Italy Team Is Very Serious Oct 13, 2014 Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has praised the character of Antonio Conte’s team. The Azzurri are set to face Malta on Monday in the Euro 2016 qualifiers, and the 36-year-old took the time to praise the side. “This national team is very serious,” he told Sky. “To write the history of a nation like Italy you need to only win.” “We need to work in the best way possible to get good results.” The Juve goalkeeper also likened the Maltese side to Azerbaijan, stating that they will try to congest play. “A team like Malta is more or less like Azerbaijan,” he said. “They will put nine or 10 men in their own half to try and block the play. “For us, the only thing we can do to try and win is to open them up and open the scoring as early as possible.” Buffon also stated that he has not spoken to Francesco Totti since Juve’s controversial 3-2 win over Roma. “We haven’t heard from each other since,” he said. “But I don’t want to cause controversy after the end of the 90 minutes, it’s not in my character as a person to do so.” It is also worth mentioning that Italy will try to take their tally to nine points on Monday, having already defeated Norway and Azerbaijan.

Time for Juventus to make their mark in Europe again Oct 12, 2014 If the papers aren't discussing the need for technology in football due to the controversial manner in which Juventus defeated Roma, then instead they're discussing Arturo Vidal and his future. The Chilean midfielder's talent is not to be doubted, but there is a concern that he is slipping. Beppe Marotta & Co. have always cared about the delicate balance of personalities within the squad. Part of their love for Vidal came from his intensity and desire to be a leader. His relentless running and dynamic energy explain why he developed into one of the best players in the world. Without these qualities, he risks falling back into mediocrity. It remains to be seen whether he can win back the affections of those who once idolised him, but beyond that, this is an incredibly important season for Juventus. Not only because they have to prove they can still win despite the departure of Antonio Conte, but because it's high time for them to make their mark on Europe. Many who enjoy criticising the Bianconeri reflect on the fact that, in Europe, Juve don't win. Does that mean anything? While they have won only two Champions League trophies, they have reached the final seven times. Arrogance let them down in 1998 after they decided to draw "1-0" on the back of their hands to irk Real Madrid; instead they provoked their opponent to produce a stunning performance and achieve victory. In 2003, they lost to Milan on penalties and never quite recovered from not having Pavel Nedved available for the final match. Overall, there are many more reasons for why the champions of Italy have choked at the final hurdle. Juventus are indeed a side that values domestic triumph and has usually prioritised winning scudetti as opposed to European trophies, but to say they are a side that only wins in Italy is reaching to say the least. They were a team that struck fear in their opponents, a side that was used as an example and a collective unit that entertained. The best and brightest managers in Europe sought only to defeat the Bianconeri, none more so than Sir Alex Ferguson. "Juventus were an example for my Manchester United," Ferguson said. "I had my players watch videos of [Marcelo] Lippi's team and would say, 'Don't look at the tactics or technique. We have that too. You need to learn to have that desire to win.'" If they were only a team that won in Italy then they would not have received such admiration for their work. However, since Fabio Capello's Juve, the Bianconeri have failed to really make an impact on Europe, barring the tremendous individual games they've played against the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid. Much of it is due to their failure to cope with the pressure as well as their tactical naivety. Rudi Garcia demonstrated wisdom and great intelligence prior to Roma's match against Manchester City when he placed the burden squarely on the shoulders of Manuel Pellegrini's squad. Garcia's team were not the league winners; they came second, have barely spent the money City have and hadn't played in Europe for years. They were expected to lose, anything better than a defeat would be considered brilliance. Like Juventus, City are expected to destroy all that's in front of them but suffered. The onus was on them to win against what was the lowest ranked team in their group. Such pressure was stifling. Atletico Madrid reached the final of the European tournament last season because they understood how to exploit their reputation as underdogs. After the success they experienced last year, they no longer have that luxury and have since started to wobble. Meanwhile, Juventus are struggling under that same weight of expectation. Not only are they representing themselves but the Italian league too. If they are easily defeated, what does that say about the state of calcio? It was somewhat easier for them in their first year back in Europe, 2012, when no one imagined they would defeat Chelsea but they did, comprehensively. The side that did eventually knock them out of the competition was the team that went on to lift the trophy. Tactical naivety is also a problem as one could see that Conte had much to learn in Europe. The 3-5-2 formation isn't loved by the fans but it's not the problem -- or at least, it's not the main problem. In essence, Juventus need to be a little smarter in Europe, a little better prepared for the big challenges. Had they prepared well against Atletico Madrid in Matchday 2 then they would have understood that they are a side who are at their most comfortable when they force their opponent to take possession of the ball and thus the attacking initiative. Had they simply given Diego Simeone's men possession and forced them to take the initiative, the Spaniards would have suffered like they have done in their own domestic league now that their opponents have wised up to their antics. The next match against the Rojiblancos will be in Turin, where Juventus are expected to control the ball and succeed. They will not be able to play like the away side. Only a psychological breakthrough will help this Juventus cope with the pressures of Europe; on a sporting level, they have everything it takes to leave their mark.

Buffon: 'Italy respect Malta' Oct 12, 2014 Italy captain Gigi Buffon warned not to underestimate Malta in tomorrow’s Euro 2016 qualifier. This match follows on from Friday’s surprisingly hard-fought 2-1 win over Azerbaijan in Palermo. “I didn’t need to raise my voice in the locker room after the Azerbaijan game,” assured Buffon in a Press conference. “There are moments in which certain players have to make sure their voice is heard, but with regards to that game I can only applaud my teammates. “We must look at the glass as half-full, as our reaction to the equaliser was vehement and it wasn’t easy after conceding an own goal having dominated the match. In general I like the approach, dedication and hunger the team is putting into every training session.” Malta have lost both their qualifiers so far, including a 3-0 to Norway on Friday, but Buffon is not fooled. “If you watch that game, Malta had at least seven scoring opportunities. Also, the smaller teams can put nine or 10 elements inside their own half to break up the play. We have to break the deadlock as early as possible.” Buffon also spoke to Sky Sport Italia about his secret to growing old gracefully. “The bigger you are, the less chance you have to give people to hurt you. If before you were playing very well in 90 per cent of the games, as the years go by you need to increase that percentage to 95 per cent, because there are other goalkeepers coming up behind you who are just as good.”

Pogba: 'Evra my Uncle Pat!' Oct 12, 2014 Paul Pogba scored in France’s 2-1 victory over Portugal and revealed his nickname for Patrice Evra. “We’re in good shape and beat a strong team. The Juventus midfielder was on target in last night’s international friendly in a move sparked by his club and country teammate Evra. “Evra? He is my Uncle Pat!” Pogba told RMC Sport. “I am young and still need to learn. I cannot do everything right.” He also sustained a knock to the knee, but assured “it’s nothing serious. It was just a bruise and I’m keeping ice on it.” The 21-year-old has scored five goals in just 17 senior caps for France. “I do not want to minimise Paul’s performance, as he does things out of the ordinary, even if he ought to simplify his game sometimes,” added Coach Didier Deschamps. “Portugal would have loved to have him in their squad.”

Pirlo: 'Italy can win Euro 2016' Oct 12, 2014 Andrea Pirlo believes this Italy side can win Euro 2016 in France. “Why not?” The Azzurri were runners up in Euro 2012 and went out in the group phase of the 2014 World Cup. “This Nazionale can win the European Championship in France. Why not?” Pirlo told news agency ANSA. “Of course, we’d have to improve a lot...” Italy are joint top of their qualifying group after a 2-0 victory in Norway and 2-1 home win over Azerbaijan. They travel to Malta for Monday’s next Euro 2016 qualifier.

Bonucci on Azerbaijan struggle Oct 12, 2014 Leonardo Bonucci explained the difficulties Italy had breaking down Azerbaijan in a 2-1 win. “When you meet a team like this that sits back in its own half, it is difficult to find a way through,” the Juventus defender told Rai Sport after the Euro 2016 qualifier. “We knew that we’d have to make the most of set plays to break them down, but perhaps need to be more determined in our finishing.” In a Press conference this week, Ciro Immobile and Simone Zaza said they were an ‘ignorant’ strike pair because they do not calculate when to hold back. “The truth is that we are an ‘ignorant’ team in the sense that we want victory at all costs and fight for every ball. That is the secret to the revival of the Nazionale,” agreed Bonucci. The centre-back scored with a sensational volley last Sunday to secure Juve’s 3-2 victory over Roma, but wasted a couple of good opportunities for Italy. “I could’ve done better, as I was alone in the box and tried to score a great goal, perhaps remembering last week’s. “I should’ve had a cooler head in front of goal, but if I had that I’d be a striker and not a defender!” The Azzurri travel to Malta for Monday night’s Euro 2016 qualifier.

Pogba: There was no argument with Evra The midfielder insists that he was merely offered words of support when confronted by his Juventus colleague in Saint-Denis on Saturday. Oct 12, 2014 Paul Pogba has dismissed the suggestion that France team-mate Patrice Evra reprimanded him during Saturday's friendly win over Portugal. The pair appeared to have words after Pogba misplaced a pass during the game in Paris but the midfielder has insisted that he was merely being offered support by his Juventus colleague. "I wanted to change the play but I did not see the pass, so I kept the ball," the 21-year-old told RMC. "Then I slipped and lost the ball. "Pat did not come over to scold me; he came to encourage me. There was no argument. "As I often say, this is my 'Uncle Pat' and he came to tell me it was not serious and that I should continue as I was doing, as he always done in the past. "I was a little bummed about losing the ball, but football is like that." Pogba, who netted the second goal in France's victory, also reassured Juventus fans that the blow he took to his knee was no cause for concern. "Everything's fine," he insisted. "I received a little knock but it's okay now." Pogba has established himself as a key player for Juventus since joining from Manchester United in 2012 and he was joined in Turin by former Red Devils colleague Evra this summer.

Italy were in danger against Azerbaijan, admits Pirlo The midfielder concedes his side should have killed their Euro 2016 qualifier off earlier, while Ciro Immobile claims the squad is more united than in Brazil. Oct 12, 2014 Andrea Pirlo admits Italy's wayward finishing left them in a perilous position against Azerbaijan on Friday. The veteran midfielder, who reversed his decision on international retirement to link up with Antonio Conte's squad this week, helped his side to a 2-1 win as Giorgio Chiellini scored twice to salvage three points after turning the ball into his own net. Italy missed a number of chances to kill the game off prior to the equaliser - something which left Conte frustrated - as Azerbaijan battled to nullify Pirlo and steal a point, and the Juventus star admits they were in trouble prior to Chiellini's winner. "I've been used to it for years [the close marking]. Playing this way is difficult, but the important thing is always the result," he told Rai Sport. "We knew Azerbaijan would close up and it was dangerous when they equalised, as we had the chances to finish off the game earlier." Pirlo was forced to drop into Italy's defensive line to receive the ball at times and was even booked for a late tackle as one of the last defenders. "We tried to change things up for a while, as I couldn’t touch the ball, so I went deeper than Bonucci," he explained. "I hope not to do that again, as I'm not great at tackling and I deserved that yellow card." Striker Ciro Immobile, meanwhile, was full of praise for the head coach for changing the mentality after their dismal World Cup campaign in the summer. "I know how Conte manages the group, I had it at Siena. I felt important even though I played little," he said. "Here we fight for the shirt, all 26 or 27 of us. In Brazil we had almost the same players, but something was wrong."

Pogba: I Took A Knock To The Knee, But I Can Continue With France Oct 12, 2014 Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has reassured fans of the Old Lady that a knock he picked up during France’s friendly win over Portugal wasn’t anything serious. The 21-year-old French international, who scored his country’s second goal in their 2-1 victory against the Portuguese team in Paris on Saturday, admitted that his knee was in need of some ice after the match, but is confident that he’ll be ready for Les Blues’ next friendly against Armenia on Tuesday. Pogba spoke to RMC after France’s positive result against Portugal about his physical condition and insisted that he is fine and able to continue training for the next game. “The knee is fine, I took a knock and I only put some ice on it, but it’s all right,” said the Juventus star. “There are no problems for the national team. At the moment I am currently planning on appearing for the national team in the next match and I don’t think there will be any problems.”

Panenka: 'Nedved for Juve President' Oct 12, 2014 Antonin Panenka revealed his friendship with Pavel Nedved, who he tips to “become Juventus President.” The inventor of the chipped penalty, later taken on by the likes of Francesco Totti and Andrea Pirlo, was in Montecarlo for the Golden Foot ceremony. He first unveiled ‘the Panenka’ in a shoot-out that gave Czechoslovakia the Euro 1976 trophy against West Germany. “Before the game I didn’t know we would go to penalties, but I did know that I would take a spot-kick that way,” Panenka told Calciomercato.com. “The important thing is to score a goal. Anyone who gets the ball in the net has achieved their objective and style comes later. “When I have some spare time, I like to play golf with my friend Pavel Nedved.” The ‘Furia Ceca’ has been suggested as a future President of Juventus, replacing current chief Andrea Agnelli. “I wouldn’t do it, but Pavel is different and perhaps Agnelli believes he can become a good candidate for Juventus President.”