Socrates

Serie A - 14^ Giornata - Andata - 4/12/2011 (ore 15:00) 2 - 0 Claudio Marchisio (72') Arturo Vidal Pardo (R - 83') Juventus Arena - Torino Arbitro: Daniele Doveri Spettatori: 27000‎ Serie A - La Juve soffre, ma resta in vetta La squadra di Conte mette alle corde il Cesena ma sblocca il risultato soltanto nella ripresa grazie a un sinistro di Marchisio e a un rigore trasformato da Vidal. Sfortunatissimo Del Piero, che entra nel 2° tempo ed esce poco dopo per un taglio al volto. Eurosport - Domenica, 4 dicembre 2011 NIENTE TURN OVER - Dopo il brillante pareggio in rimonta contro il Napoli, allo Juventus Stadium arriva il Cesena: 1 fisso sulla carta, ma Antonio Conte non si fida dei bianconeri più deboli, e così il turnover è rimandato a data da destinarsi (quasi certamente la Coppa Italia). Effettua solo un cambio, inserendo Pazienza, e soltanto perché Pirlo è squalificato. MONOLOGO JUVENTINO - La Juve del primo tempo (e complessivamente di tutti i 90’) è quella di sempre: tanta grinta e pressing, con il Cesena costretto a difendersi fin dalle battute iniziali, ma stoicamente deciso a difendere con le unghie e con i denti un prezioso pareggio. Matri e Vucinic si procurano un paio di occasioni per parte, ma il fortino del Cesena resiste agli assalti degli uomini di Conte, e quando Doveri manda le squadre negli spogliatoi, il risultato è ancora fermo sullo 0-0. LA CHANCE DI QUAGLIARELLA - Nella ripresa Arrigoni dà spazio a Malonga, che sostituisce Bogdani, mentre poco dopo Conte decide di gettare nella mischia Quagliarella al posto di Matri. Al 56’ arriva anche il momento di Del Piero, tra l’ovazione del pubblico, mentre Vucinic si accomoda in panchina. La Juve nel frattempo ha già ripreso il proprio forcing furioso, con gli ospiti che (eccezion fatta per qualche tentativo di contropiede) rimangono ancorati nella loro metà campo. Pepe di testa sfiora l’ennesimo sigillo in campionato (sarebbe stato il quarto consecutivo), Pazienza e Quagliarella ci provano con due conclusioni da fuori, ma senza fortuna. SFORTUNA DEL PIERO - Al 64’ Del Piero viene anticipato da Rossi, che nel tentativo di anticiparlo alza la gamba e lo colpisce al volto: sangue al sopracciglio, tanto spavento, e il capitano della Vecchia Signora costretto a lasciare il terreno di gioco. Al suo posto entra Giaccherini. Intanto il tempo passa, Martinho impegna Buffon nell’unica occasione degna di nota per il Cesena, mentre la Juve non demorde e continua a premere. Al minuto 72 un bel sinistro rasoterra di Marchisio pone fine alle sofferenze degli uomini di Conte, e poi Pepe (servito da Giaccherini) si mangia il 2-0. Che arriva comunque, con la grossa complicità del direttore di gara: all’81’ Antonioli anticipa Giaccherini, che cade a terra: per l’arbitro è rigore, e a poco servono le proteste dei romagnoli. PENALTY GENEROSO - Oltre il danno la beffa: Arrigoni ha finito i cambi, in porta ci va Rodriguez, che sul tiro dal dischetto di Vidal nemmeno si muove. 2-0, e pratica chiusa. Eder sfiora l’1-2, Quagliarella tira addosso a Lichtsteiner, poi arriva il triplice fischio finale. La Juve si riprende la vetta; con tanta fatica ma in ogni caso con merito. Il Cesena-tutto-difesa (catenacciaro) ha fatto quel che ha potuto, e per poco non gli è scappata una mezza impresa. Eurosport http://www.tifosibia...0#entry11662945 Juventus - Cesena 2-0

Marotta moves to block Chelsea switch for Giovinco Dec 6, 2011 Juventus GM Beppe Marotta is ready to battle Chelsea for Parma midfielder Sebastian Giovinco. Giovinco's agent has already confirmed Chelsea's interest in the Atomic Ant, where Blues owner Roman Abramovich is a big fan. However, the midfielder is co-owned by Juve and Marotta has made it clear they want to bring him back to Turin. "We hope that Giovinco would return to Juve," he said. "Parma is a friendly club. There is a real possibility: it will be good for Juventus and, therefore, also good for the national team. We have half, so we can bring him back."

Serie A Week 14 - 4-12-2011 (3:00 p.m.) 2 - 0 Claudio Marchisio (72') Arturo Vidal Pardo (P - 83') Juventus Arena - Turin Referee: Daniele Doveri Attendance: 27000 Vidal delighted with Juve win Arturo Vidal has praised his Juventus side after they broke down a determined Cesena defence to record a 2-0 victory on Sunday. Dec 5, 2011 Cesena made it difficult for the Old Lady by focusing on simply defending while hoping to catch Juve on the break. However, head coach Antonio Conte's side kept hammering away at the Seahorses and finally broke through as Claudio Marchisio and Vidal hit the back of the net. "We'll go far like this," Vidal stated. "I'm very happy about the three points and the hard-fought victory. "This was a very difficult game for us, one where Cesena came with the idea of just putting up barricades. "You have to compliment them. They did well until we finally scored and they were on the verge of picking up a great result. "We broke the deadlock though and it was then a different game. "First place belongs to us in the table and we are having a spectacular campaign so far." http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Pirlo: I want a trophy with Juventus Dec 5, 2011 AC Milan’s midfield string-puller-in-chief for some ten years, Andrea Pirlo certainly caused something of a stir this summer when leaving I Rossoneri for Serie A rivals Juventus. Making the switch even more piquant was the fact that the Italian international, a FIFA World Cup™ winner in 2006, was out of contract and cost Juve nothing in transfer fees. “It’s the bargain of the century for us. Seeing him play in front of my backline, it made me realise that God does exist,” said his new club-mate Gianluigi Buffon, another key member of that triumphant Nazionale squad at Germany 2006, on a player who has to date won 72 senior caps and scored nine goals for his country. Drawing a line under his time in Milan must have been tough for the 32-year-old, whose role as a deep-lying playmaker and ball-winner was a vital cog in the red-and-black machine. A veteran of 401 matches for the club, Pirlo collected two UEFA Champions League crowns, two Serie A titles and one FIFA Club World Cup success, among a host of other winners’ medals. Yet after spending much of last season on the treatment table, the midfield schemer decided the moment was ripe for a fresh challenge and Italian football’s Vecchia Signora welcomed him to Turin with open arms. Three months on, during which Pirlo has already proved he has lost none of his world-class ability, the quietly spoken superstar generously made time for an interview with FIFA.com. FIFA.com: Andrea, Michel Platini once said about you that “if Pirlo’s on song, everything else falls into place”. How are you enjoying life in your new club’s shirt? Andrea Pirlo: I feel very comfortable. The Juventus shirt is steeped in years of success and tradition. Pulling it on gives me a genuine sense of pride after so many years wearing the Milan jersey, which is similarly steeped in history and tradition. I’m very pleased, happy even. *You were part of the furniture at AC Milan, enjoying key-player status as a fans’ favourite. What made you decide to leave? *My contract was coming to an end and I felt the need to seek out new challenges, to win things in another club’s shirt. I think that I needed to move on. You know, after nine or ten seasons with the same club you can find yourself losing your motivation, not having the same level of desire. I’m the one who made the decision: I wanted to experience something new. Right from the moment I arrived at Juve, I could immediately sense the club’s will to win, their determination to go as far as possible as quickly as possible. The coach, the club and the players are all on the same wavelength. From my personal experience, I think we’ve got all the ingredients for success. No other club would have been able to meet my expectations so well. Juve want to reign in Italy and Europe once more and that’s a challenge I want to be part of. *How is your relationship with new boss Antonio Conte, who was as iconic a player for Juventus as you were at AC Milan? *Very good. His footballing philosophy reminds me a little of Carlo Ancelotti, but he’s very similar to Marcello Lippi in the way he goes about his business. He sees the team as a unit that should always stay compact, and he believes that we shouldn’t get obsessed with moving the ball too quickly, as unless your technical ability is faultless that can often lead to mistakes. *Given that you started out as a conventional No10, which coach had the inspirational idea to position you as a deep-lying playmaker? *The idea came from Carlo Ancelotti, and I think that I was one of the first players to play that role out on the pitch. I don’t know if I’d call myself a pioneer, but from a tactical point of view it’s clear that playing in that role allows me to dictate the tempo of the whole team, to set the pace of the game. I feel particularly at home in the position. And it’s true that, even when I was just starting out (and playing as a No10), I tended to drift deep to get hold of the ball. That’s perhaps the reason why I feel so good in this position. *Would it be fair to say that playing in a deeper role is also a better fit for your personality, since you’re quite a reserved character? Playmakers tend to be in the spotlight more... *I’m quite simply a totally normal guy. And once I’m away from the pitch or the dressing room that’s where it ends for me, the rest is nobody else’s business. I’ve had the extremely good fortune to be able to do what I love most in the world for a job. But at the same time, because of the way I am, I’ve always been able to keep my feet on the ground – thanks to the help of my family and those closest to me. *As a former No10, can you explain why fewer and fewer teams deploy someone in that role? *There are a few youngsters coming through in that position, but coaches nowadays are looking for other characteristics – such as physical strength and speed. They matter, no doubt, but they're not the be-all and end-all. *Johan Cruyff once said that “Pirlo can make his feet do whatever he wants. He’s a genius.” How does it feel to hear that? *It is possible that I was born with a particular gift. But I still wouldn't have got to this level without a lot of hard work and sacrifice. I’m a fan of players with strong personalities and great technical ability. Above all I really have an appreciation for those players capable of dictating the tempo of matches and starting moves. *How would someone go about becoming a set-piece expert like yourself? *Every single day, ever since I first became a pro, I’ve stayed back after training to practice my set-piece taking. Nobody has ever forced me to, but it’s something I enjoy. I’d like young players to understand how important dead-ball situations can be, as they can often decide the outcome of a game. By practising them a little every day, you gain greater accuracy and a more delicate touch. *What do you think of the view that the way you play has changed Italian football? *Of course that’s nice to hear, but one player alone, however technically gifted he is, can’t change a whole playing system. I think it’s best to keep your feet on the ground and keep working hard. *Which coach have you enjoyed the closest relationship with? *Without taking anything away from all the great coaches that I’ve crossed paths with during my career, I think that I’ve felt most at home with Ancelotti. Why? It’s hard to explain. It’s probably down to the simple fact that we share similar character traits. *Is there anything you regret about your career? *It would be impossible not to have regrets: they’re part of the game. That said, I think that every disappointment or regret we experience helps us all grow as people and professionals and strengthens our characters. *Finally, do you think this could be the season Juventus reclaim the Scudetto? *It’s still too soon to tell and, to be honest, I don’t even think we should be thinking about that yet. Juve have finished in seventh place for the past two seasons, so we need to keep our feet on the ground, keep working hard and continue playing the way we’ve been doing since the start of the campaign.

Serie A Week 14 - 4-12-2011 (3:00 p.m.) 2 - 0 Claudio Marchisio (72') Arturo Vidal Pardo (P - 83') Juventus Arena - Turin Referee: Daniele Doveri Attendance: 27000 Marchisio pleased with hard-fought Juventus victory over Cesena Dec 5, 2011 Claudio Marchisio acknowledges Juventus were made to sweat for their victory against Cesena, while also noting the team can still improve. The Little Prince finally found the breakthrough after 77 minutes of Juve toil and frustration against the Seahorses on Sunday, for his sixth goal of the season. Arturo Vidal netted a controversial penalty to then seal the result. Marchisio told the club’s official website the Old Lady must learn to be more clinical in the final third: “We looked to stretch the play on the flanks, but they closed us down a lot. It wasn’t easy but we already knew that. We must be more clinical in front of goal, but this can also be a positive aspect: it means that we’ve still got great margins to improve. “We’re more calm and confident in our means and this helps us to obtain certain results. We’re happy about the victory and the response to Udinese and Milan overtaking us.” Of his crucial strike, the Turin native said: “I didn’t think that the ball was coming back to me. Instead, Arturo managed to feed it back into my path and the control was important to hit it with my left foot.” Marchisio returned to the starting line-up after serving a one match suspension, but Andrea Pirlo had to sit out because of his yellow card accumulation and was replaced by Michele Pazienza. He hailed his impact and that of the other substitutes. “Pazienza? He had a great game. He was important, as were the introductions of Quagliarella and Giaccherini who gave us fresh impetus. I’m sorry for Alex Del Piero. We were immediately concerned, because we saw the cut and the blood. He reassured us once we were back in the dressing room.” Del Piero required eight stitches to the head after a nasty collision, but is expected to be fine. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Baggio hails Juve and Italy Dec 5, 2011 The legendary Roberto Baggio expects Juventus and the Italian national side to fight for honours over the next 12 months. Baggio was a star for both teams during a glittering career and he’s confident that, after some tough times, the Bianconeri and the Azzurri can compete for silverware again. “Juventus can win the Scudetto this season and I’m sure that Italy will do well at Euro 2012,” Baggio stated on Monday afternoon. “Italian football is starting to pick itself up. There seems to be more focus on younger players and this is very positive. “There are now some of our club sides who are doing well in Europe again and this helps everyone in our game. “There are also Italian teams who are playing some really attractive football – Udinese, Milan and Juventus are doing really well.” Italy’s European Cup hopes took a slight knock on Friday when they were grouped with Spain, the Republic of Ireland and Croatia at the European Championship. “I think that Italy boss Cesare Prandelli has done a great job,” Baggio, scorer of 27 goals in 56 caps, continued. “I do think that we’ll do well at Euro 2012.”

Andrea Pirlo: Juventus want to reign in Italy & Europe once more The Italy international has stressed that the Old Lady are full of ambition, but added that they're not getting carried away after their good start to the season. Dec 5, 2011 Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo has stressed that the Bianconeri are determined to return to the pinnacle of Italian and European football in the not too distant future. The Turin giants' last official Serie A title dates back to 2002-03, while they haven't won a major European trophy since lifting the Champions League trophy in 1995-96, but Pirlo feels the club are on the right path to return to the top. "Juventus want to reign in Italy and Europe once more and that’s a challenge I want to be part of. Right from the moment I arrived at Juve, I could immediately sense the club’s will to win, the determination to go as far as possible as quickly as possible," Pirlo said to Fifa.com. "The coach, the club and the players are all on the same wavelength. From my personal experience, I think we’ve got all the ingredients for success." The playmaker then went on to discuss his side's chances of winning the Scudetto this term, and he stressed that the Bianconeri have to stay grounded. "It’s still too soon to tell whether we can win the Serie A title and, to be honest, I don’t even think we should be thinking about that yet. "Juve have finished in seventh place for the past two seasons, so we need to keep our feet on the ground, keep working hard and continue playing the way we’ve been doing since the start of the campaign." Juventus currently top the Serie A table with 29 points from 13 games.

Serie A Week 14 - 4-12-2011 (3:00 p.m.) 2 - 0 Claudio Marchisio (72') Arturo Vidal Pardo (P - 83') Juventus Arena - Turin Referee: Daniele Doveri Attendance: 27000 Andrea Pirlo: Juventus want to reign in Italy & Europe once more The Italy international has stressed that the Old Lady are full of ambition, but added that they're not getting carried away after their good start to the season. Dec 5, 2011 Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo has stressed that the Bianconeri are determined to return to the pinnacle of Italian and European football in the not too distant future. The Turin giants' last official Serie A title dates back to 2002-03, while they haven't won a major European trophy since lifting the Champions League trophy in 1995-96, but Pirlo feels the club are on the right path to return to the top. "Juventus want to reign in Italy and Europe once more and that’s a challenge I want to be part of. Right from the moment I arrived at Juve, I could immediately sense the club’s will to win, the determination to go as far as possible as quickly as possible," Pirlo said to Fifa.com. "The coach, the club and the players are all on the same wavelength. From my personal experience, I think we’ve got all the ingredients for success." The playmaker then went on to discuss his side's chances of winning the Scudetto this term, and he stressed that the Bianconeri have to stay grounded. "It’s still too soon to tell whether we can win the Serie A title and, to be honest, I don’t even think we should be thinking about that yet. "Juve have finished in seventh place for the past two seasons, so we need to keep our feet on the ground, keep working hard and continue playing the way we’ve been doing since the start of the campaign." Juventus currently top the Serie A table with 29 points from 13 games. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 14 - 4-12-2011 (3:00 p.m.) 2 - 0 Claudio Marchisio (72') Arturo Vidal Pardo (P - 83') Juventus Arena - Turin Referee: Daniele Doveri Attendance: 27000 Antonio Conte: Juventus' maturity made Cesena crumble The Bianconeri's coach was satisfied with his his team's victory, praising his players' attitude as they recorded a hard-fought away win to return to the top of the table. Dec 5, 2011 Juventus coach Antonio Conte has expressed his satisfaction with his side's 2-0 Serie A win at home over Cesena on Sunday, and felt his players showed maturity as they kept on going for the win right until they broke down their opponents' resistance. The Serie A minnows proved to be a tough test for the Bianconeri throughout the match, but late goals from Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal eventually helped Juventus to the full three points. "The team passed a test of maturity with flying colours. Cesena gave in? No, it was us who made them crumble, by forcing them to play with 11 men behind the ball," Conte said in the post-match press conference. "I liked the attitude and the drive displayed by my players. They played knowing the goal would come sooner or later and the 21 shots on goal tell the full story. "Now we’ll turn our attention to the Coppa Italia, and will only consider Roma from Thursday night onwards." Juventus host Bologna in the Coppa Italia on Thursday evening before visiting Luis Enrique's Giallorossi next Monday. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Pirlo: Juve will win – at some point Dec 5, 2011 Andrea Pirlo is convinced that Juventus have what is needed to get back to winning ways, but he’s making no promises for this season. The Old Lady currently lead the standings by two points over Milan and Udinese, yet the Italian international is playing it cool. “It’s still too soon to tell if we can win the Scudetto this season and, to be honest, I don’t even think we should be thinking about that yet,” he told FIFA.com. “Juve have finished in seventh place for the past two seasons, so we need to keep our feet on the ground, keep working hard and continue playing the way we’ve been doing since the start of the campaign.” The World Cup winner has been an instrumental figure in Turin since his Bosman free transfer from Milan during the summer. “My contract was coming to an end and I felt the need to seek out new challenges, to win things in another club’s shirt,” he added. “You know, after nine or 10 seasons with the same club you can find yourself losing your motivation, not having the same level of desire. “I’m the one who made the decision – I wanted to experience something new. I think that I needed to move on. “I feel very comfortable,” he continued. “The Juventus shirt is steeped in years of success and tradition. “Pulling it on gives me a genuine sense of pride after so many years wearing the Milan jersey, which is similarly steeped in history and tradition. I’m very pleased, happy even. “Right from the moment I arrived at Juve, I could immediately sense the club’s will to win, their determination to go as far as possible and as quickly as possible. “From my personal experience, I think we’ve got all the ingredients for success. No other club would have been able to meet my expectations so well. “Juve want to reign in Italy and Europe once more and that’s a challenge I want to be part of.”

Marchisio was never for sale Dec 5, 2011 Juventus have rejected speculation that they considered selling Claudio Marchisio during the summer transfer window. The Italian international has been one of the club’s best players so far this season and a major reason why they are currently top of the League. “We never thought about selling Marchisio,” director general Beppe Marotta told La Domenica Sportiva. “He is eclectic, a player who can combine quantity with quality. He’s one of the top players in Europe right now.” The midfielder, 25, is actually the club’s joint leading Serie A scorer this season – with Alessandro Matri – thanks to his six goals in 12 games. His latest came in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Cesena. “We knew that we had to collect a victory,” Marotta continued. “And the side brought home the three points needed.” The former Sampdoria official also applauded the work of new boss Antonio Conte, the former Juve captain who led Siena to promotion last term. “Conte has talent, he has got the best value out of our players, he’s given them an attachment to the club and installed a good work ethic.”