Salas Ruled Out For Season
Sunday 21st October 2001
Juventus striker Marcelo Salas will miss the rest of the season after tests confirmed he has damaged ligaments in his right knee. "There is no need to make a fuss," he said. "I will come back stronger than before the injury. Juventus must wait for me."
The pre-season favourites for the title now have serious problems in attack as Nicola Amoruso is also injured. Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet are the first-choice pair up front, but coach Marcello Lippi now has little back-up.
Midfielder Gianluca Zambrotta acknowledged: "The injury to Salas is a problem. I don't know what the club will do, because they cannot sign any players before January unless they are out of contract."
Salas picked up the injury in the away draw with Bologna on Saturday night.
Lippi brought on Salas late in the game in a bid to break the deadlock against the resilient visitors, but the Chilean was hurt almost immediately and Juve were forced to finish with ten men.
Salas, who joined Juve in a swap deal involving Yugoslav striker Darko Kovacevic this summer, has a history of knee problems. One forced him to miss the end of last season with Lazio.
Lippi said: "The only serious matter is Salas because that is an injury. As for the team, nothing worries me. In fact I want to compliment them for their effort and application."
The Juve boss also paid tribute to opposite number Francesco Guidolin after Bologna left Turin with a well-deserved point.
"With so many good players in their midfield, and Zauli and Pecchia always ready to support the defence, it was difficult for us to play," said Lippi. "It's always difficult to perform against such a well organised team."
The Juve coach added that the midweek Champions' League win over Rosenborg had taken a lot out of his team. "It's hard to play a match every three days," he moaned.
"You can't expect the team to always be brilliant. They have played on Wednesday, against Bologna and now they have to play on Tuesday, too. On Tuesday we can clinch our passage to the Champions' League second phase.
"The road to the Scudetto is a long one. If we are three or four points adrift it is no big deal at present."
Guidolin entered the game without key forward players Beppe Signori, Giacomo Cipriani and Tomas Locatelli, but stressed: "Despite that we played a great match, fighting to win.
"Our results are connected with the right spirit and great union between our players. I am really proud."
