Agnelli Admits Juve Are Finding It Tough
Monday 22nd October 2001
After Sunday's disappointing draw with Bologna that left Marcelo Salas with a serious knee injury, and Alessandro del Piero with a suspected broken bone in his hand, Juventus president Umberto Agnelli admitted that the club are struggling. "We are having a tough time," he said.
Del Pieri finished the game at the Rennato Dall'Ara with his left hand bandaged, and club doctor Riccardo Agricola has admitted that there could be a fracture to a metacarpal.
"This is not a good period for Juventus," Agnelli went on. "The final reckoning will only come at the end of the season, but things are not going well at home or in Europe.
"But I would also say that this Juventus side has great potential. We just have to wait and see whether that potential will turn into anything."
It's clear, though, that Agnelli is frustrated at how long it is since Juve last won a major trophy. "Every time we fail to win a game, I miss the period in which we won everything. That's obvious I'm Juve's number one fan, and I can't think differently."
To make matters worse for the Bianconeri, Salas has been ruled out for the season after damaging knee ligaments and that could force them back into the transfer market. "We will consider our position at the end of 2001," said coach Marcello Lippi.
"We will probably have to do something, but I still believe that we are one of the four or five teams who can win the title."
Lippi is thought to have two forwards in his sights Roberto Muzzi of Udinese, and Luca Toni of Brescia.
