Del Piero The Saviour, Porto Hope For Favour From Juve
TURIN, Italy, Oct 24 (AFP)
Juventus coach Marcello Lippi believes his captain Alessandro Del Piero is in the sort of the form that could help his side reclaim their place in Europe's elite.
Lippi, speaking after Del Piero had inspired Juventus to a 3-1 win over Portugal's FC Porto and a place in the second phase of the Champions League, was delighted with the form of the Italian international who has experienced some difficult moments with injuries over the last two years.
"Del Piero led the team with wisdom and serenity," said Lippi. "Porto's goal scared us but it was his talent that got us back in the match. He is a captain in the real sense of the word and he led us to where we wanted to be. Our first objective is reached."
Del Piero's brilliant freekick gave Juve their equaliser after Brazilian Clayton had put Porto in front but then the Italian set up a goal for Uruguayan defender Paolo Montero and had a goal unjustly disallowed before Frenchman David Trezeguet sealed the victory.
Lippi knows Del Piero well. As a youngster Del Piero was a member of the Juve team who won the 1995-6 Champions League in Lippi's first spell at the club. He was the only survivor of that team against Porto although two more - defenders Gianluca Pessotto and Ciro Ferrara - are part of the squad.
Del Piero was modest about his performance.
"I am happy because the team is happy, the fans are happy and the coach is too," said Del Piero who joined the Turin side from Padova as a 16-year-old.
"We have some very good players and we showed that tonight. (Pavel) Nedved did very well and created a lot of chances."
For his part Porto coach Octavio Machado said he hoped Juventus would field a strong team at Glasgow against Celtic in their final match. Porto have to face Norway's Rosenborg of Trondheim who have a mathematical - albeit slim - chance of qualification whereas the Scottish side face a Juve team with no real incentive to win.
"We are relying on Juve playing the game," said Machado. "We started very well, then we fell apart unexpectedly, without explanation. We gave the ball away a lot, that's a mistake with any team, against Juventus it is unforgiveable.
"Del Piero's goal changed the game otherwise Juve might have had a few problems. But that's what world class players do."
