Month of Truth For Ancelotti
Tuesday 31st October 2000
Carlo Ancelotti begins a run of fixtures against Udinese on Wednesday which could decide his destiny at the Stadium Delle Alpi. "I want to win something important here," insisted the Juventus coach. "But the one thing I can say is that I would never coach Lazio. It would be too much for me."
In-form Udinese will prove a tough test for Juve, who have started slowly in the league and suffered a disastrous home defeat to Hamburg in the Champions' League.
The Turin giants travel to Reggina at the weekend before the crucial date in Athens against Panathinaikos. Juventus then return to domestic action against champions Lazio, before meeting Brescia and Verona.
Ancelotti accepts he is under pressue: "The destiny of each manager depends on results," said the former Milan star. "I know the rules and I accept them. In December, I will reveal all and that's a promise."
Ancelotti is keen to extend his contract in Turin. But if Juventus prefer to look elsewhere, their coach will not be short of offers.
Silvio Berlusconi is believed to be keen to recruit the former San Siro hero who played alongside van Basten and Gullit in the great Milan team of the 1980s.
But Ancelotti insists he is keen to stay in Turin. "I love this team, and the way of life of this club," said the coach. "I want to win something important here."
The Juve boss was quick to rule himself out of the Lazio job - and he predicted there will be no immediate vacancy.
"I'm sure Eriksson will coach till the end of the season," said Ancelotti.
"He will not have any problems even if he signed a new contract with the England national team. Lazio players are so professional."
