Roma Still Favourites, Ancelotti Warns
Monday 16th April 2001
Juventus coach Carlo Ancelotti was delighted after Saturday's victory over Internazionale, but has warned his players that they still have a lot to do if they are to catch Roma, who lead the table by four points.
"The victory over Inter was not decisive," Ancelotti said. "But I am happy, because on Saturday we proved that we are in form, and we finally succeeded in killing a game off in a few minutes, scoring immediately after the second goal � but Roma are still favourites for the Scudetto."
A season that look over just a fortnight ago, though, is now wide open again, with Juventus cutting Roma's lead by five points in their last two games.
The key to Juve's success, Ancelotti claims, is their defence. "We have conceded only 21 goals this season," he said. "We have the best defence in the league along with Parma and Atalanta.
"I have always maintained that to win the Scudetto you have to have a great defensive line."
And Ancelottoi was quick to pay tribute to two players who have been outstanding in Juve's recent surge. "I am pleased for Alessio Tacchinardi," he said, "because he is becoming a truly great midfielder.
"And I am also happy for Alessandro del Piero. As soon as he scored again, he returned to the kind of form of which we knew him to be capable. He and Filippo Inzaghi are a great pair."
