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Fabio Capello: Juventus deserve first place in Serie A The highly decorated Italian coach believes his former club are in their rightful position at the top of the table following a strong start to the season. Oct 14, 2011 Fabio Capello has praised Juventus' start to the season, proclaiming that his former club deserved to go into the international break top of Serie A. Antonio Conte's men have been particularly effective in their new surroundings at Juventus Stadium, defeating last season's champions AC Milan 2-0 in their most recent game. And the current England manager, who was in charge of the Turin side between 2004 and 2006, has been impressed with their start to the campaign. "Juventus deserve first place. They are a real and gritty team," the experienced Italian told Tuttosport. "Against AC Milan we saw how important the new stadium is. Our football is weighed down by outdated stadiums. Juve ought to be imitated." Juventus return to Serie A action after a two-week international break with a trip to Chievo on Sunday. Conte's side currently lead the league on goal difference ahead of Udinese, having picked up 11 points from their opening five games.

Juventus should stay away from Carlos Tevez - Luciano Moggi The former general director, who was once responsible for signing controversial stars in Turin, has told the current crop of leaders at the club to forget about the Argentina star. Oct 13, 2011 Luciano Moggi has warned his former club Juventus to steer clear of troubled Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez. Tevez returned to training for City on Thursday as he awaits a club disciplinary hearing for a breach of contract after allegedly refusing to play for them during a Champions League match against Bayern Munich last month. The 27-year-old has been linked with an exit from City at the next available opportunity and Juventus have been rumoured to be keen on landing him. Giuseppe Marotta, the Italian club's general director, said they have not entered any negotiations with Tevez or City for a transfer on Wednesday. Moggi believes the Serie A leaders should turn their back on the striker altogether. "Buying a dressing room breaker like Carlos Tevez in January would be the biggest disaster ever that could hit Juventus who are in the process of rebuilding," Moggi wrote in his Tuttomercatoweb.com commentary column. However, regardless of whether Tevez joins Juventus, Moggi went on to state that Antonio Conte's men are not strong enough to win the Scudetto this season. "The quality of the squad is not enough to challenge AC Milan, Inter and Napoli for the title," added Moggi.

The Power of Television Oct 13, 2011

Serie A preview: Tough tasks at top Oct 13, 2011 Serie A leaders Juventus and Udinese both face tough assignments in round six action this weekend. Eighth-placed Chievo tackle Juventus but coach Mimmo Di Carlo has warned the Turin side not to expect any favours. Chievo will stick to their defensive approach having already beaten third-placed Napoli this season. "We didn't allow Napoli space to go on the counter and in the second half put more pressure down the wings, creating a situation where we could win," Di Carlo told the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "Juve play with the centre of the squad higher up the field, so I'll have to modify a few things to avoid their rapid transitions in the final third." "This is the strongest Chievo I have ever trained. Many players go on the bench who are potentially first choice picks and we can still improve a great deal." Last season's Serie B champions Atalanta take on Udinese knowing that, without the six-point deduction, they would be in the top five instead of 16th spot. Udinese are unbeaten this season and are looking to secure a Champions League spot for a second consecutive year. With 10 goals in the last four games between the clubs, and with a combined goals for tally of 15 already in Serie A this season, few will expect a goalless stalemate this time around. Di Natale is the obvious danger man, but his counterpart for Atalanta, German Denis, is on loan from Udinese and will be keen to find the back of the net. Meanwhile, Roma captain Francesco Totti has been ruled out of the Rome derby with Lazio on Sunday because of a thigh injury. Totti sustained the problem in a 3-1 win over Atalanta on October 1 and was substituted in the 69th minute. But after losing his fitness battle, the 35-year-old will take no part in Sunday's derby, with Roma owning eight points from five Serie A matches. "After having a scan in the morning at Trigoria, Francesco Totti continues his rehabilitation program with physiotherapy and swimming exercises," Roma announced on their website. "Over the next few days he will train separately in the gym. An ultrasound to evaluate the course is scheduled for next week." Totti has yet to score in five league matches this season after netting 15 goals in 34 appearances last term. In Saturday's other matches, Catania, unbeaten at home this season, face struggling Inter Milan, AC Milan are at home to fourth-placed Palermo and Napoli entertain Parma. On Sunday, fifth-placed Cagliari are at home to Siena. Second-bottom Cesena, with only one point so far this season, host Fiorentina. Genoa should collect their third home win over Lecce and Novara will be looking to put more pressure on cellar dwellers Bologna.

Cannavaro hails Pirlo impact October 13, 2011 Former Juventus star Fabio Cannavaro says Andrea Pirlo is the player capable of making the difference in the Serie A title race this season. Turin giants Juventus lead Serie A having picked up 11 points from their opening five games, and Cannavaro believes that Antonio Conte's side are capable of maintaining their early season form with the deep-lying playmaker in midfield. "The transfer of Andrea Pirlo from AC Milan to Juventus shifted the balance in Serie A," Cannavaro told Tuttosport. "He is 32 years of age, and at that age I won the Ballon d'Or." "The beginning of the season with Juventus and Italy is surprising only to those who underestimated one of the strongest players in the world throughout the last decade."

Marotta's U-Turn on Sebastian Giovinco? October 13, 2011 Juventus General Director has intimated that the club are not closing the door on a sensational return for Sebastian Giovinco back into the fold at Vinovo, in an interview with the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport.

Serie A Week 7 - 16-10-2011 (3:00 p.m.) - Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium - Verona Di Carlo has Juventus plan October 13, 2011 Chievo take on Serie A leaders Juventus this weekend, but Coach Mimmo Di Carlo warns

Fabio Cannavaro: Title talk premature Oct 13, 2011 Fabio Cannavaro says we

Fabio Cannavaro: Andrea Pirlo's transfer to Juventus has shifted the balance of power in Serie A The retired defender has praised the impact his former Italy international team-mate has had on the Vinovo club and believes he is capable of leading them to the title. Oct 13, 2011 Former Juventus star Fabio Cannavaro says Andrea Pirlo is the player capable of making the difference in the Serie A title race this season. The Turin giants are currently top of the table having picked up 11 points from their opening five games, and Cannavaro believes that they are capable of maintaining their early season form with the deep-lying playmaker in midfield. "The transfer of Andrea Pirlo from AC Milan to Juventus shifted the balance in Serie A," Cannavaro told Tuttosport. "He is 32 years of age, and at that age I won the Ballon d'Or. "The beginning of the season with Juventus and Italy is surprising only to those who underestimated one of the strongest players in the world throughout the last decade."

Giovinco could return to Juventus - Giuseppe Marotta Good performances for Italy have yielded positive results for the 24-year-old as the Turin-based giants take note for future reference and contemplate taking the player back. Oct 12, 2011 Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta is offering Parma forward Sebastian Giovinco a chance to return permanently as he speaks openly about the player's future. The 24-year-old Italy international has been in stellar form for Parma this season, scoring five goals in four Serie A games for Franco Colomba's team. Those performances were noticed by Italy coach Cesare Prandelli who called Giovinco up for their recent Euro 2012 qualifiers against Serbia and Northern Ireland - matches in which the player featured. Marotta is also keeping his lens on the Italian who is co-owned by Juventus and Parma after the clubs struck a

Prandelli reiterates how important Pirlo is to Italy The head coach has taken the time to praise the experienced midfielder's impressive performances for the national side. Oct 12, 2011 Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has praised Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo's influence on his team following the 3-0 defeat of Northern Ireland in Group C of the Euro 2012 qualifiers in Pescara on Tuesday night. Pirlo has been in superb form since joining Juventus from AC Milan in the summer, and played an important role in Italy's qualification for next year's tournament in Poland and Ukraine. And the former Fiorentina boss insists the 32-year-old midfielder plays a crucial role in his team's fortunes. "It would be very difficult to give up a player like Pirlo," Prandelli told Tuttosport. "Nobody makes time and space to play like him, while his presence reassures his team-mates."

Juve dismiss Tevez talk October 12, 2011 Juventus director general Beppe Marotta has responded to transfer links with Carlos Tevez and Sebastian Giovinco. The Argentine is being associated with a January move given his problems at Manchester City, while there is talk that Giovinco

Serie A Week 7 - 16-10-2011 (3:00 p.m.) - Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium - Verona Pellissier has Chievo desire October 12, 2011 Sergio Pellissier has confirmed that he wants to end his career with current club Chievo Verona. Pellissier has become a key figure for the Stadio Bentegodi outfit over the years and he would like to continue his adventure with the Flying Donkeys. "My intention is to finish my playing days with this club," the veteran noted when questioned on his future. "I'm happy at this outfit and I'm contracted to them for another year. Let's hope they want to renew our agreement..." Pellissier joined Chievo in 2002 from Spal and has netted 99 goals in 316 games across all competitions for the Gialloblu. So far this season, the 32-year-old has scored two goals in four Serie A games for Mimmo Di Carlo

Caps: Pirlo catches Nesta and Scirea Oct 11, 2011 Andrea Pirlo's 78th cap put him on a par with former Milan teammate Alessandro Nesta and the great Gaetano Scirea. Caps - Name - Club 136 Fabio Cannavaro Parma 61, Inter 19, Juventus 20, Real Madrid 26, Juventus 126 Paolo Maldini Milan 112 Dino Zoff Napoli 19, Juve 93 110 Gigi Buffon* Parma 35, Juventus 97 Gianluca Zambrotta* Bari 2, Juventus 56, Barcelona 17, Milan 94 Giacinto Facchetti Inter 91 Alessandro Del Piero* Juventus 81 Franco Baresi Milan 81 Giuseppe Bergomi Inter 81 Marco Tardelli Juve 80, Inter 1 79 Demetrio Albertini Milan 78 Alessandro Nesta Lazio 48, Milan 78 Andrea Pirlo* Milan 73, Juventus 78 Gaetano Scirea Juventus 74 Giancarlo Antognoni Fiorentina 73 Antonio Cabrini Juventus 73 Gennaro Gattuso Milan 71 Claudio Gentile Juventus 70 Alessandro Mazzola Inter 68 Daniele De Rossi* Roma 66 Tarcisio Burgnich Inter 64 Francesco Graziani Torino 47, Fiorentina 17 63 Franco Causio Juve 57, Udinese 6 63 Roberto Donadoni Milan 59, Metro Stars NY 4 61 Alessandro Altobelli Inter 60 Gianni Rivera Milan 60 Dino Baggio Inter 1, Juventus 19, Parma 40 59 Umberto Caligaris Casale 37, Juve 22 59 Alessandro Costacurta Milan 59 Gianluca Vialli Sampdoria 56, Juve 3 58 Walter Zenga Inter 58 Francesco Totti Roma 57 Filippo Inzaghi* Atalanta 1, Juventus 31, Milan 57 Christian Panucci Milan 16, Real Madrid 13, Inter 4, Roma 24 56 Roberto Baggio Fiorentina 13, Juve 31, Milan 2, Bologna 6, Inter 3, Brescia 1 55 Romeo Benetti Juventus 22, Milan 29, Roma 4 55 Mauro Camoranesi* Juventus 54 Fernando De Napoli Avellino 5, Napoli 49 53 Giuseppe Meazza Ambrosiana-Inter 52 Virginio Rosetta Pro Vercelli 10, Juventus 42 50 Fulvio Collovati Milan 33, Inter 17

Buffon appreciates Italy focus Oct 11, 2011 Gigi Buffon admires Italy

Pirlo still key for Prandelli Oct 11, 2011 Italy boss Cesare Prandelli has underlined the importance of Andrea Pirlo to his Azzurri side ahead of tonight

Serie A Week 7 - 16-10-2011 (3:00 p.m.) - Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium - Verona Sorrentino reveals Juve bid October 11, 2011 Stefano Sorrentino has admitted that he could have been going into this weekend

Gianluigi Buffon: I would never play under Zdenek Zeman Although unconcerned by the Czech's doping allegations against his club, the experienced goalkeeper claims he would not sign for a team coached by the former Foggia man . Oct 11, 2011 Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has hit out at Pescara's Zdenek Zeman and stressed that he would never work under the Czech coach. The well-travelled 64-year-old has been involved in a long-standing feud with the 27-time Scudetto winners since making allegations of doping, which were later found to be false by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Zeman accused the Turin giants of using performance-enhancing substances during his spell in charge at Roma from 1997 until 1999, and Buffon has not forgotten those comments. "His controversial anti-Juve allegations never touched me," the former Parma goalkeeper told Tuttosport. "For cities like this [Pescara], he is perfect. His reputation leads people to the stadium. "However, I would never be his goalkeeper or work under him." Buffon is preparing to appear in Pescara in Tuesday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Northern Ireland. He will receive a special plaque and cap in the city on Thursday to recognise the fact he has passed the 100-game mark for Italy, an honour which has also been bestowed upon Dino Zoff, Paolo Maldini and Fabio Cannavaro.

Claudio Marchisio: Juventus always had faith in me The Italy international rubbishes suggestions that he was on the transfer list at Juve and claims that he is not intimidated to be compared to the legendary Marco Tardelli. Oct 10, 2011 Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio says that he was never on the verge of leaving the Turin giants during the summer transfer window despite speculation that he would be offloaded. Marchisio was reported to be heading towards the exit before the start of the 2011-12 campaign after inconsistent performances in the first team following his development at Juve

Gullit on Pirlo-less Milan Oct 10, 2011 Ruud Gullit has become the latest former Milan player to criticise the club

Prandelli test for N Ireland Oct 9, 2011 Claudio Marchisio is available for Tuesday