Lippi Rues Lack Of Juventus Cutting Edge
Saturday 22nd September 2001
Juventus coach Marcello Lippi was frustrated by his side's inability to break down a stubborn Lecce defence in Saturday's 0-0 draw.
The loss of two away points saw Juve concede their 100 per cent league record, but with Lecce also unbeaten after four games, a draw was maybe not such a bad result.
During the first half we played with no intensity, always trying to go through the centre of the field, Lippi commented. We did better in the second half, playing a lot on the wings.
"But it's true also that we had the best chances to score during the first 45 minutes. Football is like that. Sometimes you can create fewer chances when you play in the best way.
The match saw the return to Serie A action of Edgar Davids after his suspension for nandrolone abuse. And the Holland international lasted the 90 minutes, having been sent off in his first-team comeback against Celtic in the Champions' League on Tuesday.
Edgar played a very good match, but of course he was one of the players who should have done more on the wing during the first half, said Lippi. Anyway, he played very well, as did Pavel Nedved.
Juve's disappointment was compounded by the dismissal of Paolo Montero for a last-minute foul on Lecce goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti.
Montero will be suspended for the next league match against Roma, while fellow defender Igor Tudor also faces a spell on the sidelines after injuring an ankle at the end of the first half.
Lippi admitted the two defenders would be missed, but was confident his squad would be deep enough to cope. "It's a pity to play against Roma without them," he said. "But we have a large, strong squad and I don't think we must cry about the absences.
The Turin club stretched their lead at the top of the table to three points, but Internazionale and AC Milan have the chance to draw level on Sunday when they take on Torino and Lazio respectively.
