Thuram On The Defensive After Juve Lament
Friday 11th January 2002
Juventus defender Lilian Thuram has vowed to stop complaining about playing out of position after he was switched to right-back after Ciro Ferrara's return from injury. "I made a mistake. I know I always have to do my best, including at right-back," he said.
Thuram went on to admit that he was more concerned about his own performances than his team's earlier in the season.
Thuram signed for Juventus in a �22 million deal from Parma in the summer after rejecting switches to Lazio, Manchester United and Real Madrid. He agreed a five-year package worth �2.2 million a season.
But the first six months at the Stadio Delle Alpi have not turned out as the France defender had hoped. Only after switching from central defence to right-back following Ciro Ferrara's return from injury has Thuram been able to reproduce the form that made him one of the most coveted defenders in the world.
And he admitted on Friday that his attitude had not been the best while remaining adamant that his best position was at centre-back.
He said: "I never liked to play as a right-back and that includes while playing for France. I know I don't have a problem with playing in several different positions and I could also play in midfield but I always considered myself as a central defender.
"I made a mistake and now I know that I always have to do my best, including at right-back."
The France star explained that it all became clear to him during the Christmas break. "I went back to Guadeloupe, where I was born, and I realised that football is giving me so much and above all, I should be happy to be a footballer.
"So I have to accept that I was not the important matter here but the team. Now I have the right mentality to help Juventus also as a right-back and I will play in this position and enjoy myself as much as I can," he added.
Last year, France captain Marcel Desailly begged national coach Roger Lemerre to pick Thuram as his partner at centre-back, saying: "It really makes me laugh to hear that Thuram-Desailly is impossible."
But Lemerre hit back: "Since Thuram has been playing on the right, the French team have been doing very well. From this postiion he was the man who gave us victory against Croatia [in the World Cup 1998 semi-final] which allowed us to go on to become world champions. Why would I change a system that works?"
Thuram, who has twice been voted best foreign player in Serie A for his performances in the centre, said: "The coach knows very well what I want. I would like to play in the middle like with my club."
Thuram went on to insist that Juventus can still catch leaders Roma, despite being five points behind in fourth. He said: "We are playing well now but we can still improve. We have the right attitude now but every game is a test.
