Conte Gains Strength From Adversity
Monday 1st January 2001
Juventus captain Antonio Conte has revealed his frustration at playing for
the best team in Italy in 2000 without having anything to show for it. But
he insists Juve are a better side after their year of disappointments.
Conte, reflecting on a year that took in last-day title failure with
Juventus as well as last-second Euro 2000 misery with Italy, explained that
the Bianconeri were the best side in Serie A in 2000, but ended the year
with nothing at all in terms of honours.
"If you take an average for this calendar year then no-one has done better
than Juve," he said on Sunday, "but unfortunately we have nothing to show
for it."
Juventus lost the league title on the very last day of the championship on
14 May, when they lost to Perugia in farcical waterlogged conditions. They
then returned to the Champions' League only to be knocked out by
Panathinaikos in Athens.
But despite the many regrets, Conte does preserve some good memories of 2000
and feels that his team-mates have gained strength from adversity.
"The year 2000 was not all sour for us," he said. "We have built character
from those difficult moments which has put us in a position to mount a
strong challenge for this season's scudetto."
Conte also issued a timely reminder to Roma that sitting
pretty on their lead may cost them dearly. After all, he should know.
"Last season we threw away nine points in seven games and allowed Lazio back
into the title chase," he said.
Apart from Roma and Juve, Conte added that Lazio, Parma and Milan were all
genuine title contenders.
