Buffon Calls On Juve To Rediscover Mental Strength
Friday 21st December 2001
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has called on his side to rediscover their early season form when they face Brescia on Sunday. "We need to be mentally strong and get back to the level we were at the start of the season," he said.
It was the home defeat to Roma, Buffon believes, where Juve's season began to go off the rails. "It broke something in our minds," he said. "But the win against Chievo, when we came from two down to win 3-2, showed how strong we can be."
Juve lie fourth, six points behind leaders Internazionale, but Buffon remains confident that his side can mount a serious title challenge.
"We are not depressed," he insisted. "We all desire to improve the situation. In Florence we dropped two points, but the great regret was to draw having taken the lead. A 0-0 draw would have been accepted, but this draw was not."
And from a personal point of view, Buffon is more than satisfied. "I'm playing better than I was a month ago," he said. "When I do make a mistake all the media talk about it, but I think it is a good thing because it means I don't do it often."
Buffon is well aware, though, of just how good Internazionale are looking this season. "They are the favourites," he admitted, "especially now they have Vieri and the old Ronaldo back. To hear that we're out of the race is a great motivation."
But Buffon is not taking Brescia lightly.
"They are a hard team," he said. "And they have a coach I like a lot Carlo Mazzone. He knows how to face big teams, as Brescia showed in getting a draw against Roma last week."
Juve's task could be made even more difficult with the news that David Trezeguet could miss out with an ankle injury. Nicola Amoruso stands by. Antonio Comnte will return on the right side of midfield in place of the suspended Gianluca Zambrotta.
Juventus (probable): Buffon, Thuram, Ferrara, Iuliano, Pessotto, Conte, Tacchinardi, Davids, Nedved, Del Piero, Amoruso.
