Socrates

Coppa Italia - Final - 20-5-2012 (9:00 p.m.) - Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Christian Brighi Chiellini ruled out of Coppa Italia final, confirms Conte The towering defender picked up a knock in Sunday's Serie A win over Atalanta, and his coach has now revealed that he will not play a part in the cup final against Napoli. May 14, 2012 Antonio Conte will have to make do without the services of defender Giorgio Chiellini in Juventus' Coppa Italia final against Napoli on May 20. The centre-back picked up an injury in the Old Lady's 3-1 Serie A win over Atalanta on Sunday afternoon, and was forced to leave the pitch after 88 minutes of play due to the physical problems. It is not yet known how long Chiellini will be out of action for due to the thigh injury, but Conte has confirmed that the defender will definitely miss the cup final against Napoli. "It was a thigh twinge and he will certainly be out of the Coppa Italia Final, but needs more tests," the Juventus coach commented on Chiellini's injury.

Agnelli: 'Invincible Juve in history' May 16, 2012 President Andrea Agnelli opened the new Juventus Museum by stating this season’s team “will be remembered as the Invincibles.” The club inaugurated the museum within the Juventus Stadium as part of their revamp and are still celebrating the Scudetto. “At the start of the season nobody gave us as favourites, while at most they tipped us for fourth place, but it brought us to an extraordinary title and celebration. “The joy was immense because of how the season went and in comparison with the previous two campaigns. We will be remembered as the Invincibles.” Antonio Conte’s side are the first to finish a 20-team Serie A season unbeaten and have the chance to win the Coppa Italia against Napoli on Sunday evening. “We are concentrated on the Napoli challenge, an important game against a team that put Champions League finalists Chelsea in crisis. Next year we’ll start on a par with all the others and must as always earn everything on the field.” The museum is on the east side of the Juventus Stadium and marks the 115 years of the club, including trophies, memorabilia and multimedia components in Italian and English. “This museum also covers the history of my family,” continued Agnelli. “It includes cult objects with more traditional ones and you can see the evolution of football as a whole. There are also many video clips and so much more for the Juventus fans.”

Buffon a leader, says Pagliuca May 16, 2012 Gianluigi Buffon is back to his best after helping Juventus to Scudetto glory, says Gianluca Pagliuca. Talking to Calcio News 24, the former Sampdoria, Inter and Italian national ‘keeper praised the Bianconeri No 1 for his efforts this term. “Buffon has had a great season and we’re certainly not discovering his talent now,” Pagliuca commented. “He risked compromising the title with his mistake against Lecce, but you can accept one error over the course of a campaign. “He conceded very few goals and he’s one of the greatest leaders in a Juventus side who have returned to title glory. “He really felt the importance of this triumph, a victory which came after a few difficult years in which his quality was also placed into doubt.” Buffon made 35 appearances in Serie A this term, conceding only 16 goals in the process.

Marchisio expects new Juve faces May 16, 2012 Claudio Marchisio understands that the Juventus squad will have to evolve over the summer if they want to challenge for the Champions League. The Old Lady won the championship by going through the 38-game League season unbeaten, while they’ll face Napoli in the Coppa Italia Final on Sunday. “We’ve had a great season and we won because we were hungrier than everyone else,” the midfielder told Sky Sport Italia. “Now we have to try and keep pace with the big European teams and I’m convinced that our directors will reinforce the side on the market without revolutionising the squad. “We are now hoping to end the campaign by winning the Coppa Italia even if we know it will be very tough against Napoli.” Marchisio was one of the side’s key players this term after he grabbed nine goals in 36 games, but he’s shared around the praise. “Everyone in the squad has impressed me,” added the 26-year-old. “I think they all contributed something important to this Scudetto. “For example, Marco Borriello, who was heavily criticised, or players such as Martin Caceres, Luca Marrone and Emanuele Giaccherini.”

Bonucci 'hungry for Euro 2012' May 15, 2012 Leonardo Bonucci has thanked Antonio Conte for improving him as a player and has “incredible hunger” for Euro 2012. “I improved a great deal thanks to Conte and I thank him, as be made me understand that at times I needed to be grittier and less lazy,” Bonucci told Sportal. He is one of several Bianconeri stars called up by Cesare Prandelli in his 32-man long list for Euro 2012. “The fact there are so many Juventus players in the Italy squad is certainly positive, as it means we have worked well throughout the year. “It also allows the Nazionale to be based on a group who already know each other and bring a winning mentality, the kind we’ve shown this season. “We laugh and joke with Gigi Buffon every day, even about the 2006 World Cup win. He is a champion both on and off the field. That is the secret, as he is never sated. “Andrea Pirlo is a real genius. It’s incredible what he can do with the ball at his feel. For him having a player pressing him or not makes no difference. “If I think about the Euros, then I feel incredible hunger. For a young player like me, hunger and humility must never be lacking.”

Pirlo: 'We start new Juve era' May 15, 2012 Andrea Pirlo believes the Scudetto and Sunday’s Coppa Italia Final with Napoli are the beginning of a new Juventus era. “Now we can start really winning.” The midfielder arrived on a free transfer from Milan last summer and proved decisive in their title triumph. “I felt great joy after doing something important and indescribable. The party on the open top bus through the city streets was really amazing, as there were so many people,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “Today we began an important week of work, as we will reach Sunday with the right hunger and concentration to win this trophy. Napoli are a great team and proved that over the last few years. They too have the objective of winning, so it’s going to be a difficult game.” If Juve win the Coppa Italia, it’ll mean they end the entire season unbeaten in all competition, as so far they’ve played 38 Serie A matches and four in the Cup. “We laid the foundations to achieve something important, because when you begin a run of victories, it increases the hunger to keep going. Now other trophies and Finals to play are opening up to us, so we can start really winning,” added Pirlo. He was asked about his ‘heir,’ the 19-year-old Marco Verratti who shone for Pescara this season and has been called up for the Euro 2012 long list. “He is very talented. Is it irritating to hear about the ‘new Pirlo’? No, it’s not as if I can play until I’m 40. I keep going as long as I have fun and maintain the desire to play.”

Juventus should not retire the number 10 shirt, says Pirlo The Old Lady directors considered retiring the iconic jersey, but the Italian forward asked the club to keep it available, an opinion shared by the former Milan man. May 15, 2012 Alessandro Del Piero has refused a proposal by the Juventus board to retire his number 10 shirt, according to team-mate Andrea Pirlo. It remains unclear where il Pinturicchio will play next season, but it is almost certain that the veteran will leave the Old Lady after 19 years of service. However, Pirlo revealed that the 37-year-old does not want to see his number withdrawn from service. "Juventus wanted to retire the number 10 shirt now that Alessandro is leaving the club, but he asked them not to do so," Pirlo revealed in an interview to Sky Sport Italia. "I agree with his decision. It's unthinkable that someone will be up to Del Piero's legacy soon, but I am sure someone will, in the future." The Italian midfielder believes many players dream of wearing the number 10 jersey for Juventus, and that is "a very beautiful thing", but he denied that he will take on the responsibility next season. "I am staying with 21", he stated, "I've always had it and I want to keep it."

Serie A - 19^ Giornata - Ritorno - 13-5-2012 (ore 15:00) 3 - 1 Luca Marrone (10') Alessandro Del Piero (28') Stephan Lichtsteiner (83' - A.G.) Andrea Barzagli (90+1' - Rigore) Juventus Stadium - Torino Arbitro: Gabriele Gava Spettatori: 36000 Serie A - Juve: 3-1, titolo e saluto a Del Piero La Vecchia Signora festeggia la vittoria del campionato davanti al proprio pubblico al termine della vittoria per 3-1 sull'Atalanta: in gol Marrone, Del Piero - che lascerà il calcio italiano -, e Barzagli, su calcio di rigore. Il 2-1 provvisorio arriva in seguito all'autorete di Lichsteiner.... Eurosport - Domenica, 13 maggio 2012 Giornata di emozioni forti allo Juventus Stadium. Il campionato si chiude con la Juve campione d'Italia e con Alessandro Del Piero che saluta il calcio italiano: Alex lo fa con trasporto ed emozione, davanti al pubblico che ha cantato il suo nome per quasi venti anni. E che ha continuato a farlo anche nell'ultimo giorno della sua avventura davanti ai propri sostenitori. DEL PIERO TITOLARE - Antonio Conte dà spazio a chi fin qui ha giocato di meno: dentro, insieme a Del Piero che vive l'ultima sua gara in campionato con il bianconero addosso, anche Estigarribia - che gioca come terzino basso a sinistra - Padoin, Storari e Marrone. Lo schema è il 4-3-3: davanti, con il capitano, ci sono Giaccherini e Borriello. Atalanta con Denis unica punta e Maxi Moralez a supporto. MARRONE APRE LA FESTA - La partita, quella vera, dura davvero pochissimo, praticamente fino alla sassata di Marrone, che sblocca il risultato con un destro violento da dentro l'area al termine di una bella accelerazione di Borriello, che poi con il tacco smarca il compagno. Frezzolini non può nulla e la Juve è già in vantaggio. Poco prima, Del Piero - in campo da titolare nell'ultima partita di campionato così come aveva fatto anche in occasione della gara inaugurale della Serie A 2011-2012 - aveva visto il suo ginocchio sinistro girarsi in maniera innaturale sugli sviluppi di un contrasto con Peluso. Da lì in poi per il capitano bianconero è un continuo stringere i denti, perché di abbandonare dopo appena cinque minuti la partita del saluto al suo pubblico non se ne parla nemmeno. RETE NUMERO 188: L'ULTIMA IN SERIE A - Meglio farlo con un gol. Appunto. La rete del saluto, o dall'addio, arriva al minuto 28, con un destro a giro, ma non "alla Del Piero", perché l'obiettivo "secondo palo" questa volta è una finta: la palla finisce sul primo, quello meno coperto. Quello dove Frezzolini proprio non può arrivare. La Juve vola sul 2-0 e lo Juventus Stadium esplode, tutto in piedi per il suo capitano che torna a centrocampo per ricevere l'abbraccio dei suoi tifosi. E' la sua rete numero 188 in Serie A: raggiunto Giuseppe Signori all'ottava posizione della classifica all-time. DEL PIERO SALUTA L'ITALIA - Nella ripresa, il minuto 52 è quello che resterà nella storia della Juventus. Conte richiama Del Piero per concedergli la standing ovation e per preservarlo in vista della finale di Coppa Italia di domenica prossima. Lui esce, stringe le mani degli avversari e comincia a commuoversi. Perché lo stadio, già in piedi dall'inizio della partita, canta e invoca il suo nome con tutta la voce che ha. Lui si prende tutto il suo tempo per uscire dal campo, e una volta fuori va a sedersi in panchina. Ma non ci resta molto, perché i tifosi lo chiamano sotto la curva, vogliono che faccia il giro di campo, per salutare chi gli è sempre stato a fianco, anche nei momenti più difficili. Lui, Alex, si alza e se lo fa tutto, il nuovo stadio, la casa che lui stesso ha contribuito a inaugurare e che ha aperto per primo ormai un anno fa. Raccoglie sciarpe, saluta il pubblico e si fa scendere una lacrima: un evento per uno come lui, ma che dà la dimensione del legame infinito che c'è tra la Juve e il suo capitano. IL TROFEO: POI FESTA IN CITTA' - Dopo l'uscita del capitano, la partita ha poco senso, perché si guarda più fuori che dentro: si segue con lo sguardo Del Piero che fa il giro di campo, mentre all'interno del rettangolo di gioco non succede praticamente nulla. L'Atalanta accorcia in virtù di una disattenzione della difesa bianconera che porta all'autogol di Lichsteiner, poi è Barzagli - su calcio di rigore - correggere il risultato nel 3-1 finale. Il difensore, chiamato sul dischetto dal pubblico dello Juventus Stadium, era l'unico dei titolari a non essere riuscito ad andare in gol quest'anno. Poi è festa, festa scudetto: con la passerella di tutti i giocatori, del condottiero Conte e con Alessandro Del Piero che solleva il trofeo della Serie A. Andrea Tabacco - Eurosport Juventus - Atalanta 3-1

Juventus confirm Chiellini will be fit for start of Euro 2012 The Bianconeri have revealed that the centre-back's thigh problem will only keep him out of action for 20 days, meaning he should be available to face Spain in Gdansk on June 10. May 15, 2012 Italy boss Cesare Prandelli has been given a major boost with the news that Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini will be fit for the start of Euro 2012. The versatile centre-back picked up a thigh problem in Sunday's Serie A victory over Atalanta but the Bianconeri have now confirmed that the player will only be out of action for just under three weeks. "This morning [Tuesday], Giorgio Chiellini underwent an ultrasound scan to check his health condition," a statement on the club's website read. "The defender showed a first degree strain of the long abductor muscle of his right thigh. "He’ll be able to return to action in 20 days. Therefore he’ll miss the Coppa Italia final against Napoli." Italy kick off their Euro 2012 campaign on June 10 with a mouth-watering clash with defending champions Spain in Gdansk.

Chiellini will make Euro 2012 May 15, 2012 Giorgio Chiellini should be available for Euro 2012 after the Juventus man was ruled out for the next 20 days. There were fears that the defender would miss the tournament after picking up a right thigh strain on Sunday. The stopper, who can also play as a left-back, underwent tests today and he is expected to be sidelined for around three weeks. Italy start their campaign against Spain on June 10.

Pirlo against No 10 shirt retirement May 15, 2012 Andrea Pirlo says he agrees with Alessandro Del Piero’s request for Juventus not to retire his No 10 jersey. It is being claimed that the Old Lady were prepared to take the legendary shirt out of circulation in honour of Pinturrichio, but the club captain is opposed to the idea. “I agree with the opinion of Alex,” the midfielder told Sky Sport Italia. “It is right that the No 10 jersey is not retired. “Young champions should be given the chance to dream about wearing that number.” There have been claims that Pirlo could inherit the shirt, but he’s quickly denied that option. “I’ll keep the No 21.”

Barzagli pens Juve deal May 15, 2012 Andrea Barzagli has extended his contract with Italian champions Juventus until June 2015, according to Sky Sport Italia. Barzagli, signed for under €1m from Wolfsburg in January 2011, was previously committed to the Old Lady until June 2013. It is understood that the Italian international will see his current basic salary of €1.2m a season increase. Juventus have yet to confirm the deal. The 31-year-old scored one goal in 35 League appearances for the Old Lady this season. Alessandro Matri, Paolo De Ceglie, Fabio Quagliarella and Leonardo Bonucci have already had their deals renewed at the club this term. Boss Antonio Conte and goalkeeper Gigi Buffon are expected to also pen new agreements in the near future.