Socrates

Gianluigi Buffon is new AIC vice-president Following his Scudetto triumph the 34-year-old goalkeeper has been selected to represent the union of Italian football players despite continuing to play professionally. May 8, 2012 Juventus icon Gianlugi Buffon has been elected to the prestigious position of vice-president of the Italian Players' Union (AIC). He will join current president and former Roma midfielder Damiano Tommasi, with the pair aiming to change the image of players in Italy. "The players know they are role models for many people, but often lack the tools to become ambassadors of a positive message," Tommasi told Ansa. Buffon, who has enjoyed a superb season for the Bianconeri and helped guide his side to a 28th official league tittle, added his own sentiments. "I think there are foundations to relaunch the image of football altogether." Over 2,000 professionals are linked to the union that will now be represented by the World Cup and three-time Scudetto winner.

Who is Juventus’ Player of the Season? Goal.com names the top three stand-out performers for the Bianconeri in 2011-12 and then declares the overall winner. Have your say below!. May 8, 2012 Following one of the most underwhelming seasons in the club's history, Juventus set about fixing things, and quickly. In came a new coach in Antonio Conte, new players, and the move to a new stadium also gave the club a fresh edge. The progress made off the field looked set to manifest itself on the pitch as early as the first day of pre-season training. Suddenly, with the new acquisitions fitting in quickly, and the advantage of not playing in Europe, there was a building belief that this could be the season Juve bounced back. Indeed, the dream of a 28th official Scudetto became more and more achievable with each passing day. Before anybody knew it, the Bianconeri were unbeaten and looking unbeatable, racking up points game after game to eventually see off all challengers. By the time the run-in came around, they had hit their best form of the season, and with AC Milan struggling, the Serie A title was theirs. Add a Coppa Italia final appearance to the mix, and it has been the perfect season, Napoli permitting... Below, in alphabetical order, are Goal.com's three nominees for Juventus' player of the season, based on their club performances in all competitions. We then cast our vote at the bottom before leaving it up to you, the readers, to have your say. ANDREA BARZAGLI | DEFENDER With the Bianconeri rearguard having conceded just 19 goals in the league in a currently unbeaten campaign, much of the credit goes to the 31-year-old World Cup winner. While Leonardo Bonucci made good progress and Giorgio Chiellini performed well when playing both centre-back and left-back, Barzagli was the real wall erected in front of Gianluigi Buffon. With 37 appearances in all competitions, only an injury against Chievo saw him miss games, and after winning the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg in 2008-09, his first Italian title was fully deserved. His contract expires next summer, but already the club are looking to extend his deal. Only a fool would allow the best defender in Italy this season to leave. ANDREA PIRLO | MIDFIELDER "Revenge is a dish best served cold" goes the old adage. And 365 days after celebrating a Scudetto with Milan, Andrea Pirlo was back in the role of key protagonist on the field in another title win. With few words and lots of work, he has transformed a side that couldn't string two passes together into one that opponents cannot get the ball from. Racking up 13 assists, the Bresciano has become the man his team-mates thank most for the 28th title. The regista wasted little time in convincing Conte to renounce his favoured 4-2-4 to adapt to his characteristics, and so he has directed play from a 4-3-3 and then 3-5-2 with great aplomb. It was a winning gamble, because Pirlo has been second to none. ARTURO VIDAL | MIDFIELDER Juve originally wanted Gokhan Inler in their midfield last summer, but the Udinese man chose Napoli instead. As a back-up, the Bianconeri brought in the Chilean, and have never looked back, while the Swiss is busy wondering whether he made a big error in turning down the move to Turin. Vidal's workrate, sacrifice, and hunger for the ball in all circumstances has seen him get through the work of three men all season. He has broken up countless opposition attacks, shown great ability on the ball, and also grabbed seven goals, many of which came during the vital closing stages of the campaign as Milan fell away. It is easy to see why Bayern Munich were willing to pay €20 million for his services. Juventus fans remain delighted that Bayer Leverkusen decided to sell him for half the price in order not to reinforce their domestic rivals' squad. WINNER: ANDREA PIRLO The best regista in the world. This season, he has been the best player on the pitch in almost every game, but the most important in the destination of the Scudetto came in week 32 against Lazio. His magnificent performance, with his fantastic assist for Simone Pepe providing the icing on the cake, helped the Bianconeri to return to the top of the table after Milan won away at Chievo. They would not be knocked off their perch from that point on.

Scudetto glory surprised Marchisio May 8, 2012 Claudio Marchisio has admitted that he has been surprised by how well the season has gone for champions Juventus. “I’m happy that we have been able to complete the dream of winning the Scudetto,” stated the midfielder. “We’ve won the League thanks to hard work and sacrifices. “The last two seasons didn’t go very well for us, but we have achieved something truly unexpected this year.” After finishing the last two campaigns in seventh place, the Bianconeri are still unbeaten this term under the guidance of Antonio Conte. “Winning the Scudetto with Juventus was always my objective, but there are still two trophies on offer – the Coppa Italia and Euro 2012,” added the former Empoli player. Marchisio has been impressive this term and also contributed nine League goals in the Old Lady’s march towards the title. “I’ve had a fantastic season, scoring 10 goals overall,” he added. “I’ve won the League, I’m in the national team – I can’t complain. “We started the season with other objectives, but it has ended in a great manner.”

Marotta: 'No Juve bad boys' May 8, 2012 Director Beppe Marotta looks to the future of Juventus, including Robin van Persie, Eljero Elia, Marco Borriello and “no bad boys.” The Bianconeri are celebrating the Scudetto and already preparing for next season, which will include the Champions League. “I haven’t slept, there is so much euphoria around us. We achieved an extraordinary target that was unthinkable at the start of the campaign,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “Thanks to the work of so many components we were able to make this dream come true. Antonio Conte was crucial, as we gave him the resources and he got the best out of them. “As for the transfer market, we must point out the Scudetto arrived because this is a great team without a prima donna. We must maintain that balance, although clearly improve the overall quality of the side. “There is talk about top players, but along with great technique you need a great person. We don’t want to dismantle what we created this year, a squad that never gave up and always worked hard. There’s no room for ‘bad boys.’” Juve have been heavily linked with a bid for Arsenal star van Persie and Marotta does not deny their interest. “He is among the most complete players around, but he still has a year on his contract with Arsenal and so I can only express an opinion on his qualities. I don’t feel like naming targets, as that would be unfair for their clubs and the players. “Our option on buying Borriello from Roma expires on June 20, so we have time to discuss things. He had some initial difficulties, but recently helped us a great deal and Conte always admired him.” Today Elia told Dutch media he wanted to leave after barely setting foot on the field for Juventus this season. “It may seem strange, but a year to settle in was important for Elia. Serie A is different to the Bundesliga and he understood it’s another type of approach. Clearly he needs to play consistently and we are happy to help our players when they ask for that, but there won’t be any meetings until after the Coppa Italia Final.”

Agnelli: 'Juve dream come true' May 8, 2012 Andrea Agnelli feels the Scudetto is “the first dream come true. It represents the rediscovered pride of the Juventus people.” The President celebrated as his squad came out 2-0 winners over Cagliari in Trieste, mathematically securing the title ahead of Milan. “This result is the first dream come true,” he told Tuttosport. “For me this Scudetto represents the rediscovered pride of the Juventus people. “This was the first objective I had set myself when becoming President two years ago. It has been a difficult and complex experience on a tortuous journey. “As with every business, and sport is not an exception, what makes the difference is the people you choose. It was a long process and we got here thanks to choosing the right people. “When I arrived two years ago, I found a difficult situation in terms of the club and the team. I had to pick people who could bring the right approach back. “We revamped the squad and have only five players who were also here two years ago. As for the Coach, Antonio Conte knew how to transmit his determination, aggression and conviction to reach an objective that at the start of the season we could not even have hoped for.”

Buffon: I’ll retire when… May 8, 2012 Juventus’ Gigi Buffon says he won’t consider retirement until his Italian international career comes to an end. “I’m 34 and that’s a lot for a footballer, but for my characteristics and my role, that’s not too many,” the goalkeeper stated. “I’ll only think about retirement when I’m no longer called up to the national side.” Buffon, winner of 113 caps, is still the Azzurri’s undisputed No 1 and he’s set to soon extend his contract in Turin. “I’m been in Turin for 11 years, a third of my life,” said the man whose current deal expires in 2013. “I have to thank the club for making me the player I am today.” Buffon joined Juve in 2001 for a massive £33m after some impressive campaigns at Parma. On Sunday, he won his latest Scudetto in Turin. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for the last six years,” he added. “This Scudetto is payback for the decisions which I made in the past. “It was hard to go and play in Serie B [after Calciopoli demotion], but at the end of the day it has proved to be the right decision.

Chiellini: From Serie B to glory! May 8, 2012 Giorgio Chiellini of Juventus insists that Scudetto victory tastes even sweeter after his spell in the Second Division with the outfit. Chiellini was part of a group of players which stayed loyal to the Old Lady after the Calciopoli sporting trial saw them demoted from Serie A in 2006. “I’m proud that I was at this club during the Serie B years,” the centre-back, who has ben used as a left-back this term, stated. “They were tough times, but this Scudetto has made up for all of the disappointments. Now let’s hope we can start a new winning cycle. “We deserved the Scudetto on the field of play. We’re still unbeaten and we have the best defence. The alibi of Sulley Muntari’s goal has never existed.” Milan, 1-0 up at the time, had a good goal ruled out against Juventus when the officials didn’t see that Muntari’s effort had crossed the line. Juve went on to draw that game 1-1. The Bianconeri lifted the Scudetto on Sunday night, but Chiellini knows where they put one hand on the trophy. “The decisive moment came after the win at Palermo,” he stated. “After that victory, we understood that nobody could stop us. It was in our hands from that moment.” That 2-0 triumph in Week 30 was one of eight successive victories.

Agnelli confident over third star: Juventus fans will be in for a nice surprise The Bianconeri president echoed the sentiments of club stakeholders, stating that the team won all 30 Scudetti on the pitch and that he is expecting a positive outcome. May 7, 2012 Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has claimed that he has some good news in store for supporters after revealing that a "nice" surprise potentially awaits them. The debate over the third star to mark 30 Serie A titles for the Old Lady on their forthcoming jersey continues to rage on, as the club are adamant that they have won all of their league successes fairly, despite the Calciopoli verdict stripping them of their previous two crowns. However, amidst all the fuss, the president has reached out to the fans and hinted that they should expect a new addition above the side's shield on next season's shirt. "Next year, Juventus fans will be in store for some nice surprises on the shirt," Agnelli told Calciosport24. "We definitely won our 30 titles on the pitch. The prosecutor said our 2004-05 title has not been affected, and the one for 2005-06 was not investigated."

Buffon: AC Milan players 'laughed in my face' when I told them Juventus would win the title The Italy captain has explained that he knew that the Bianconeri's new stadium, which officially opened last September, would propel them towards the Scudetto. May 7, 2012 Gianluigi Buffon has revealed that some AC Milan players laughed in his face when he told them earlier this season that Juventus would win the Serie A title. The Bianconeri claimed the Scudetto on Sunday with a 2-0 victory over Cagliari, a result which, coupled with the Rossoneri's 4-2 derby defeat to Inter, moved Antonio Conte's men four points clear at the top of the table with just one round remaining. Juve's success has taken many by surprise, given they had finished seventh in each of the past two seasons, but Buffon has claimed that he knew from the moment he first set foot in the club's new stadium that the title would be returning to Turin. “I can reveal something now," he told reporters. "The day after the presentation of the Juventus Stadium I went to see some people and told them, 'We’re winning the Scudetto.' "I said the same to some of the Milan lads when we were on international duty and they laughed in my face. I didn’t take that well! “The truth is that in August I was really struck by the new stadium, as it gave me huge motivation and refreshed me. "I realised that day I belonged to a club that had made history, so we could not afford to stay on the level of the previous two years. “I said in August I rediscovered the dream and when that happens, it’s trouble for everyone else!” Meanwhile, Buffon refused to be drawn into the argument over whether Sunday's victory over Cagliari had secured Juve their 30th title, or their 28th, with the club having been stripped of two Scudetti because of the Calciopoli scandal. “The issue of how many titles we have has been going for a long time and will probably never end," the goalkeeper mused. “I won five titles on the field, then they put three on my CV, but there’s not much I can do about it. I can only say what I experienced and celebrated at the time.”

Chiellini: Juventus want to finish the season unbeaten The 27-year-old defender believes that the club fully deserve the Serie A title this term and has now set his sights on a domestic double . May 7, 2012 Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has claimed that the club fully deserve their 28th official Scudetto, and hopes they can go on to win the Coppa Italia. The Italy international was part of the starting XI that beat Cagliari 2-0 on Sunday to secure the Serie A title, and he was quick to praise the whole squad for their efforts. “After so many years, this victory is deserved for all our hard work,” the 27-year-old told Sky Sports Italia. “There will be a huge party and then we will have a few days off. “The aim of this season does not end with just the Scudetto. We want to finish unbeaten and then win the Coppa Italia. And next season, we want to do well in Europe.”

Intercepting his passes is like stealing the Mona Lisa from the Louvre - If Pirlo was still at Milan, Juventus would not be champions The former AC Milan man has come back to haunt his former side, with their decision to release him leading to the Bianconeri winning back the Scudetto. May 7, 2012 COMMENT By Andrea Ghislandi The other new acquisitions of Juventus’ summer of 2011 certainly played their part, and Arturo Vidal, Mirko Vucinic and Stephan Lichtsteiner will forever be remembered as key men in the triumph sealed in Trieste on Sunday night. But the real architect of the Bianconeri’s 28th official title - on the pitch at least - has been Andrea Pirlo. “A silent leader”, his former national coach Marcello Lippi described him, and he has been very much that since pulling on the black and white shirt. On the field, he has spoken with his feet, off it he has done the talking inside the dressing room and with family and friends, well away from the indiscreet eyes of TV cameras and newspapers. He is the first to have a laugh and a joke, however surprising that may be when looking at that ever-serious expression he takes onto the field. Along with Barcelona’s Xavi, Pirlo is football’s greatest regista of the last decade, and has been considered the right man to entrust with the job of retaining balance and injecting magnificence in the centre of the pitch ever since Carlo Ancelotti decided to switch him from trequartista in 2003. While ‘Carletto’ saw the difference he made to AC Milan, Massimiliano Allegri perhaps didn’t, but Antonio Conte went as far as to scrap his beloved 4-2-4 in order to give him carte blanche in the centre. You could say it worked. The Brescia-born midfielder put aside the injuries and misunderstandings of his final year at San Siro, and became the centrepiece of Juventus’ rewriting of history. He has contributed plenty of assists and a handful of goals, but above all it has been his consistency of performances which has made him the Old Lady’s most important man. His possession game is so exemplary that to intercept his passes is as if to steal the Mona Lisa from the Louvre. Leonardo’s masterpiece was taken on one occasion in 1991, and Pirlo has been dispossessed almost as infrequently. Metronomic in the middle, his weight of passing, decision-making, and intelligence in movement have been second to none. The only drawback, and a forgivable one at that, has been his two spot-kick failures. Many Juve fans will say that came about from an unfamiliarity with the penalty spot after a long spell without an award going their way. And while Gianluigi Buffon is the safest goalkeeper numbers wise in Serie A this season, much of that credit must go to the midfield trio of Vidal, Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio. The retention and recuperation of possession by the three men at the axis of the side has been of the highest level, ensuring that Juve spent as little time defending as was necessary. The silent leader has been a silent champion all season, with never a word out of place, even after his troubled divorce from Milan following 10 trophy-laden years. It was a a difficult final campaign in 2010-11, and the millions of Rossoneri supporters who had so loved him knew in their hearts it was over. Allegri preferred the steel of Mark van Bommel in midfield though, and allowed Pirlo to leave. Many see it as a huge error, and one which has now cost them the Scudetto. With Pirlo in their colours, Ancelotti’s Milan played the best football in Europe, and when he exchanged red stripes for white ones Juventus became a lively, bubbling and profitable outfit. It can’t simply be coincidence. One thing is irrefutable: If Pirlo was still at Milan, Juventus would not be champions of Italy right now.

Cartoon of the Day: Juventus emerge from dark days of 2006 to win Serie A title Goal.com cartoonist Omar Momani gives us his unique take on the football news of the day.... May 7, 2012 Juventus finally secured the Serie A title on Sunday with a victory over Cagliari, as AC Milan stuttered to defeat against rivals Inter. The championship is the Turin side's first since their demotion to Serie B in 2006, owing to their involvement in the Calciopoli scandal. It has been a long road back for the Old Lady, who can finally claim to be among Italy's finest once again, if they manage to avoid defeat in their final game of the season, they will have gone the entire league season unbeaten. Juventus emerge from dark days of 2006

Marchisio: I’ve been waiting for this Scudetto since I broke into the first team The Italy international has voiced his satisfaction with his side's long-awaited league success, and is confident that the team will continue to grow next season. May 7, 2012 Claudio Marchisio has revelled in Juventus' Serie A title triumph, and admitted that he had been waiting for his first Scudetto ever since making his Bianconeri debut in 2006. The Old Lady beat Cagliari 2-0 on Sunday to secure their 28th league title on record with one more game to go after rivals AC Milan were beaten 4-2 by Inter on the same day. Marchisio believes their success is just reward for the suffering the club has endured and hailed coach Antonio Conte's impact on the squad. "I’ve been waiting for this Scudetto ever since I broke into the first team. Both the players and fans have suffered a lot over the past two years," Marchisio was quoted as saying on the official Juventus website. "The coach has perhaps been the most important aspect. He’s given us identity and the desire to win. "We have a great squad that's still developing. I am confident that we will continue to grow next season when we return to Europe."

Redemption starts here: Juventus' Scudetto success ends years of hurt, but could be just the beginning The Bianconeri's wonderful season has taken them back to the top of Italian football, but now they must kick on to regain their place as the dominant club of calcio. May 7, 2012 COMMENT By Kris Voakes | Italian Football Editor As Turin wakes up to the kind of morning-after feeling nobody in the city has experienced for the past six years, it does so without the doubt and suspicion surrounding the last such celebration. For this time around there is no denying that Juventus are the worthy champions of Italy, with a season of exhilarating and dominant football rightly rewarded with the Serie A title. Last summer was a period of new hope around Vinovo, with the inauguration of the new Juventus Stadium and the return of midfield legend Antonio Conte as coach allowing Bianconeri supporters to finally buy into a justifiable belief that the club could regain a Champions League berth after two seasons of failure. The Scudetto, however, was rarely touted as a realistic target, with Conte himself still expressing deep into the second half of the campaign that it was third place that his troops needed to aim for first and foremost. But there has been a very different feeling about Juventus this term, right from the opening day. Due to the players’ strike in August, the club’s campaign got off to its right and proper start, with the chance to welcome in their season and their new home venue on the same day. The 4-1 win over Parma was notable for Juve playing with the kind of swagger few had seen in them for some time, but the whole of Italy would soon get used to. With Stephan Lichtsteiner grabbing the first competitive goal in the new surroundings, the last three goals came from midfield. That also would prove to be a running theme in their eventual title win. Suggestions that it was simply the buoyant mood supplied by a fresh beginning with the sun on their backs was expunged in early October when reigning champions AC Milan came to town. The Rossoneri were dominated from start to finish, and quite how it took Juve so long to open the scoring remains a mystery. There were elements of fortune about both of Claudio Marchisio’s late goals, but they had earned all of that luck and then some. It was the first truly great night in the Old Lady’s new home. New coach, new style | Conte had Juve imposing themselves on the opposition Marchisio was earning early rave reviews for his regular contributions in front of goal, which would later include the winner in the San Siro leg of the Derby d’Italia with Inter, but he was just part of a midfield which was quickly becoming the focal point for Juve’s attacking machine. With summer Bosman signing Andrea Pirlo’s creativity and Arturo Vidal’s magnificent engine also patrolling the centre, the trio were able to protect the defence and supply the forwards and wingers in equal measure. The metronomic Pirlo was a particular symbol of their success, adding to the Juve ranks exactly what appeared to be missing from the Milan side he left behind. He had looked a shadow of his former self in his later years with the Rossoneri, but any talk that he was finished was quickly shot down once he donned the black and white stripes for the first time. Having avoided defeat heading to the end of November, they finally appeared beaten when trailing 3-1 to a confident Napoli at the San Paolo. With a vital Champions League win over Manchester City having been recorded just a week before, the Partenopei looked set to claim a huge domestic scalp too, but Juve’s ability to keep asking questions of wanton back lines saw them through once more. Marcelo Estigarribia and Simone Pepe both found the net to preserve the unblemished record, and one of the most difficult hurdles of the season had been overcome. The equaliser had been Pepe’s third goal in successive fixtures. To the delight of Juventini, and the surprise of much of the country, the former Udinese man was the embodiment of the new Juve way. Without the flair or pace of Milos Krasic, he instead used his sheer determination to overcome his technical shortcomings to such an extent that he was becoming a key member of the side. Meanwhile, just a year on from having exploded onto the Serie A scene, the Serb was left picking splinters on the bench. As 2011 became 2012, Conte continued to mix things up. Having started the season playing in his tried and trusted 4-2-4 formation only to switch to a 4-3-3 to accommodate his trio of dominant midfielders, the coach changed shape once more in a bid to give all three of his centre-backs a starting shirt without having to use Giorgio Chiellini as a left-back. Far from having only one string to his bow, Conte was proving he could play a number of instruments when necessary. The main concern at this stage was the lack of goals. At one point, Juventus had had around 100 shots more than any other team in Italy, yet ranked only seventh when it came to finding the net. With Alessandro Matri and Mirko Vucinic trusted for much of the first half of the season, Fabio Quagliarella was left out for almost four months before finally being given a start, while for Alessandro Del Piero it was turning into a campaign to forget. Rarely used and seemingly unwanted, the club legend’s departure at the end of term was confirmed by club president Andrea Agnelli. The announcement was hidden amongst good news, with Juve fans informed at a time when the club was flying high at the top of the table and the mood in the camp good. However, left catching up games due to the arctic Italian winter, the Old Lady recorded six draws in seven matches in February and March to undermine their push for silverware. Their first really notable injury worries had seen Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli miss successive games and resulted in Vidal dropping into a makeshift back four alongside Leonardo Bonucci. By the time they were back to full strength, they remained unbowed, yet had now chalked up only 13 wins against 14 draws. There seemed no obvious end to the profligacy that had blighted them in front of goal all season, but then something clicked. Away to Fiorentina, there was a new hope, with the Viola left battered and bruised by five goals from five different scorers. It was the first time they’d racked up more than three since the opening day win over Parma, and the same emotions flooded back. This time they would ride them long enough to take them on a Scudetto march while a battered and bruised Milan foundered. Inter were beaten for a second time after Conte changed shape midway through the game. Del Piero was suddenly deemed important again, and sure enough it was his introduction that sparked the 2-0 win, with his first league goal at Juventus Stadium crowning the evening. He would add another, altogether more important, strike weeks later when firing home a stunning 82nd-minute free kick winner against Lazio. With that goal, the Bianconeri were back at the top of the table, and they would never again be deposed as leaders. The dispassionate destruction of Roma was the sign that it was over, and despite the Lecce slip-up, Novara and Cagliari were mere formalities. JUVE'S NEAR-FAULTLESS RUN-IN But that is not where the Juventus story ends. For this is still that great club which had racked up almost as many titles as Milan and Inter combined up to 2006, and as such they just don’t do one-year wonders. With the return to the top comes the rebirth of great expectations … if they ever really went away. The next stop is the Champions League, with the Turin side having only previously conquered Europe twice to this point. In a modern game in which such huge emphasis is put on achievement on the continent, a third and perhaps even fourth success should be the aim in order to take the great Juventus name back to the very top of the football reckoning. To do that there is a need for evolution. The term “never change a winning side” never seemed so foolhardy. With the extra demands of European football next term comes the need for extra resources, but most importantly, extra quality. If the squad is not injected with big-game players this summer, the work of the past 12 months could well be wasted. The current first team is young enough, but needs to also become good enough. Make no mistake about it, this season has been a huge success story, providing the denouement to six years of strife the like of which no football giant has ever known. However, this is not a time for self-congratulation, rather it is a point from which Juventus can become Juventus again. The Bianconeri faithful live and breathe dominance, and it is now the job of Agnelli, Giuseppe Marotta, Fabio Paratici and Conte to ensure that this is not the full story. If the post-Calciopoli tale is told in years to come by a budding Stieg Larsson figure, 2011-12 must represent the Old Lady with the Dragon Tattoo, not she who kicked the hornet’s nest. No, this has to be the first part of the trilogy. Next comes domestic domination, then finally European glory. The club craves silverware, and the fans need it too. Success is in the black and white blood, and that is one thing the last half-decade has not changed one iota. Redemption starts here. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 37 - 6-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 0 - 2 Mirko Vučinić (6′) Michele Canini (74′ - O.G.) Nereo Rocco Stadium - Trieste Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 9500 AC Milan's Abate: Juventus deserve Serie A title The Italy international has admitted that the Bianconeri are the worthy champions this term following Sunday evening's results as he played down Sulley Muntari's ghost-goal. May 7, 2012 Ignazio Abate feels that AC Milan's 4-2 derby loss to Inter on Sunday evening summed up the Rossoneri's injury-plagued season, and admitted that Juventusare the deserved champions following their impressive unbeaten Serie A run. The Turin side beat Cagliari 2-0 at the weekend to move four points clear of Milan with only one more game to go, and Abate has already congratulated his former team-mate Andrea Pirlo with his league victory. "The game against Inter perfectly reflected our season: two muscle injuries within the space of 20 minutes," Abate mused to La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "I have already sent Pirlo a text message. They deserve the Scudetto as they haven't lost once in 37 games," he added. Abate then dodged the question of a controversial refereeing decision that Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri and CEO Adriano Galliani believe played a key role in Juve's title win. "Muntari's ghost-goal? A lot of dubious decisions happen throughout the season, but in the end you can only compliment those who come out victorious." http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 37 - 6-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 0 - 2 Mirko Vučinić (6′) Michele Canini (74′ - O.G.) Nereo Rocco Stadium - Trieste Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 9500 Cruyff likes Juve’s winning style May 7, 2012 Dutch legend Johan Cruyff has praised the way that Juventus went about winning the Scudetto this season. The former Barcelona star has criticised Italian football in the past for being too cautious, but he’s been impressed by Antonio Conte’s Old Lady. “Juve play some good football,” he stated at a golf event in Turin. “They are attacking and entertaining. Winning is not the only thing that counts, playing well does too. “They’ve come a long way since 2006 [serie B demotion] and this victory is the right reward for their efforts. “Do they play like Barcelona? It’s hard to say, but they certainly entertain the fans.” Cruyff was also asked for his opinion on playmaker Andrea Pirlo – a player he has previously hailed – and Alex Del Piero. “Pirlo is a great, the ball does what he wants, and he could also play for Barcelona,” added the 65-year-old. “Del Piero, like Gigi Buffon, has Juventus in him. He went down to Serie B with them and then returned. It’s hard to explain what he represents for the club.” The club captain will leave Turin next month after the club ruled out an extension for the No 10. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Garrone praises Juve directors May 8, 2012 Sampdoria chief Riccardo Garrone has highlighted the importance of Beppe Marotta in Juventus’ title win. The director general joined Juve from Doria in the summer of 2010 when he also took assistant Fabio Paratici with him. “It’s a motive of great satisfaction that Juventus have been able to win the League, for the club and for Marotta who has worked well,” Garrone told Sky Sport Italia. “There was a time when we didn’t understand each other after he left Sampdoria, but everything has been repaired between us. “There is not too much better around than Marotta and Paratici…” Marotta and Paratici are in charge of Juventus’ transfer moves.

Juventus success proves I am still number one, claims Pirlo The Italy playmaker feels he has been fully vindicated in his decision to swap Milan for Turin last summer, after playing a pivotal role in the side's Serie A triumph this season. May 7, 2012 Andrea Pirlo has claimed that he has shown himself to be among the best players in the world following his contribution to Juventus' Scudetto success this season. The midfielder did not have the best of campaigns last season, as despite being part of AC Milan's Serie A-winning squad in 2010-11, he struggled to make much of an impact under coach Massimiliano Allegri and experienced a dip in form for Italy as well. However, his move to Juventus last summer proved to be vital tonic in his career, with Bianconeri coach Antonio Conte choosing to build his team around the 32-year-old, and Pirlo believes the switch has put him back in the same breath as other celebrated individuals. "It's a title well deserved and one that we wanted from the beginning," Pirlo told Sky Sport Italia. "I think that we earned it on the pitch. "I wanted to win and I did. I left Milan because I needed more motivation in my career, so I chose Juve and bought into their project. "I believed I was number one and I believe I have demonstrated it again this season." When quizzed on who would succeed him in his playmaking duties one day, Pirlo added: "I hope to continue playing for many more years because I am enjoying myself and I still really want to win more trophies."

Lega not discussed third star May 7, 2012 Lega Calcio President Giancarlo Abete confirms he has spoken to Andrea Agnelli since Juventus’ title win, but not about the third star. The Bianconeri are making it clear that they believe the 2011-12 Scudetto, secured on Sunday evening, is the club’s 30th, despite 2006’s Calciopoli rulings that officially stripped them of two titles. However, on the subsequent issue of sewing a third star on to the club’s shirt for next season - a star is added for every 10 titles won - President Agnelli only confirmed that fans would be in for a ‘surprise’ for next season’s shirt design. The Lega Calcio’s chief Abete admits that like everyone else he is intrigued by this tease, as he confirms he has not yet discussed the issue with the club. “Agnelli said that there will be a surprise for supporters on the jersey? If it’s a surprise then I too await to know the contents of it,” Abete told reporters on Monday. “This morning I called Agnelli, we have not spoken about this issue, but I congratulated him in my role as President of the federation. “Juventus’ return to the top is an important signal for all of Italian football, for what Juventus represents, for the moment of great difficulty that they experienced and for their ability to return to the top and hopefully, ultimately, also to good results at a European level.”

Agnelli has stars in his eyes May 7, 2012 Juventus President Andrea Agnelli says the club’s new jersey will be a “surprise” for fans when asked about the possibility of a controversial third star. A gold star represents 10 championships in Italian football and the club insist that last night’s triumph was their 30th – and not 28th following their two stripped Calciopoli successes. “The fans will certainly be given some nice surprises,” he stated when asked about next season’s shirt. “We’ve certainly won 30 Scudetti on the pitch. “Our legal fight for the revoked titles? We’ll continue down that path. We want to be treated equally when it comes to sporting justice. “Fairness is an important theme at this club.” Juventus returned to glory on Sunday after their win against Cagliari coincided with Milan’s 4-2 loss against Inter. “We’ve regained our pride and that is the thing that makes me most happy,” continued the chief. “There’s a lot of emotion given that this victory has arrived after two years of hard work from everybody. “This club has been completely renewed, from the directors to the players, with shareholders who have stayed close on this twisty path. “We are back to winning again and we are where we want to be.” Agnelli also hailed captain Alessandro Del Piero, a player who will leave after the club refused to offer him a new contract in the summer. “Del Piero inherited the captain’s armband here from Antonio Conte,” Agnelli continued. “I can talk about Del Piero’s qualities for the next 30 minutes… “Only three players in the club’s history can be defined as symbols – Giampiero Boniperti, Michel Platini and Del Piero. “This club and the fans will always be thankful to Alessandro and he still has an important game to play – the Coppa Italia against Napoli.” As well as three gold stars, Juve’s new jersey could have a silver star added to represent 10 Italian Cup wins if they beat Napoli. The jersey could also have Boniperti’s famous phrase – "Winning at Juventus is not important, it is the only thing that counts” – on its collar.

Marotta on Juve’s transfer plans May 7, 2012 Juventus director general Beppe Marotta says his club will spend the summer trying to build a side to battle for the Champions League. The Old Lady will return to the competition after winning the Scudetto on Sunday night with a 2-0 win over Cagliari at Trieste. “Two years ago we looked for quantity, now we want to add quality,” the transfer official told Radio Anch’io Lo Sport on Monday. “We are already competitive for the Champions League, but we’ll look for the cherry on top to touch up this fantastic squad.” The Bianconeri’s League triumph is their first since their 2005 and 2006 titles were taken away from them as they were demoted to Serie B for their part in Calciopoli. “Everyone knows the history of Juventus,” Marotta added. “In 2006 we ended up in Hell, we passed through Purgatory and now, with this Scudetto, we are back in Heaven. “The re-birth started with the return of an Agnelli as President because behind a winning team you need a strong club. “Boss Antonio Conte was our leader and our added value, he’s had an extraordinary campaign. “It would be nice to celebrate the season with the Coppa Italia too. It would be the right way to crown the campaign. “We will face this task against Napoli knowing that we will have to honour the shirt of Juventus.” Juventus continue to maintain that their two stripped titles were legitimate, hence their promise that next season’s jersey will have three stars on it to represent 30 titles and not 28. “We believe that we suffered a strong injustice and that is why we identify this title as our 30th,” Marotta added. “President Andrea Agnelli knows very well what this means, but now we are only thinking about celebrating this victory which was won with transparency on the pitch.” Marotta was inevitably asked about the future of Alex Del Piero, the club captain who will not have his contract renewed in the summer. “The club have already expressed themselves and I don’t want to comment further on it,” the ex-Sampdoria man noted. “Today we are celebrating the title, one which Del Piero played an important role in and we know that he is a champion who has given a lot to this club.”

Serie A Week 37 - 6-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 0 - 2 Mirko Vučinić (6′) Michele Canini (74′ - O.G.) Nereo Rocco Stadium - Trieste Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 9500 Beware Europe, warns Marchisio May 7, 2012 Claudio Marchisio insists that Juventus will only get better once they return to the Champions League next season. The Old Lady will again be fighting for the European Cup after they won the Scudetto last night following their win over Cagliari and Milan’s loss to Inter. “Coach Antonio Conte was the architect of this victory and he gave this squad an identity,” the 26-year-old noted. “We are a great squad, a team that is growing and we’ll improve even more next season when we are back in Europe.” This season’s triumph is Marchisio’s first Scudetto, a player who grew up in the club’s youth system and played a part in their 2006-07 Serie B campaign following Calciopoli demotion. “I’ve been waiting for this Scudetto since I first arrived in the first team and especially after our suffering over the last two seasons,” added the Italian international. “We’ve had a great campaign.” The midfielder has scored nine goals in 36 League games for the Old Lady so far this term. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 37 - 6-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 0 - 2 Mirko Vučinić (6′) Michele Canini (74′ - O.G.) Nereo Rocco Stadium - Trieste Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 9500 Quagliarella has title dedication May 7, 2012 Fabio Quagliarella has dedicated Juventus’ Scudetto victory to his family for the support they offered him during his injury nightmare. The Italian international missed the first six months of 2011 after rupturing knee ligaments in a January defeat to Parma. The former Napoli player returned to action at the start of this season and has contributed four goals to Juve’s League success. “This is my first Scudetto and it is an incredible feeling,” stated the forward. “We are still unbeaten this term and that is incredible. “My thoughts go to my family who all stayed so close to me during those difficult moments that I had with injury. I share this joy with them.” Quagliarella then hailed boss Antonio Conte, the man who in his first full Serie A season has masterminded Scudetto glory. “Conte, from the very start, gave us all faith and he always motivated us so that we offered our best,” the 28-year-old continued. “We all rowed in the same direction and the results rewarded us for the hard work and sacrifices.” http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 37 - 6-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 0 - 2 Mirko Vučinić (6′) Michele Canini (74′ - O.G.) Nereo Rocco Stadium - Trieste Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 9500 Matri hails Pirlo impact May 7, 2012 Alessandro Matri has hailed Juventus teammate Andrea Pirlo as the architect behind their Scudetto success this season. Pirlo joined the Old Lady on a free transfer from Milan in the summer and he’s been in charge of the side’s remote control. “We had our reference point in midfield and that was Pirlo,” stated the former Cagliari centre-forward. “He deserves the credit because, like our other champions, he was able to make the difference for us this season. “Then there were the other squad members who gave their contribution to this victory.” Matri, who returned to the starting line-up last night in the 2-0 win against Cagliari, is Juve’s top scorer in the League this season with 10 goals in 31 League games. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/