Lippi Admits Selection Blunder Cost Juve
Thursday 28th February 2002
Juventus boss Marcello Lippi has taken full responsibility for the 2-0 defeat by Deportivo La Coruna on Wednesday and admitted his side now face an uphill struggle to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions' League.
Lippi rang the changes for the trip to the Riazor with Alessandro Birindelli, Enzo Maresca, Paolo Montero and Alessio Tacchinardi coming into the side in place of Lilian Thuram, Edgar Davids, Antonio Conte and Gianluca Zambrotta.
But Lippi admitted that his experimenting had backfired. "It was a really ugly performance," he said. "I made a few changes to the line-up because I wanted to pick the players who are in form, but in the end it did not work.
"I'm completely responsible for what happened," he admitted. "I wanted the team to play differently to normal, but what I saw out on the pitch was not what I had in mind at all.
"I believe this defeat came about more because of our mistakes than because of anything the Spaniards did. Depor are a good side, though. They have a great striker and two dangerous wingers."
Spain international Diego Tristan gave Depor the perfect start when he headed them into a seventh-minute lead, while Brazilian playmaker Djalminha sealed the win with a second 13 minutes from time.
By that stage, Juventus had been reduced to ten men after second-half substitute Davids was shown his second red card in the Champions' League this season. "We could have done more had Edgar not done a stupid thing," continued Lippi.
"When it was ten against 11 it was pretty much already over. We still have two games to go and we have to win them both. First against Leverkusen in Germany then against Arsenal at the Stadio Delle Alpi," he added.
Lippi, however, does not believe the defeat will hinder his side's title challenge. "We have done our Champions' League chances no good at all today, but I don't think that will effect the way we play against Bologna at the weekend," he insisted.
"Physically we are in good shape. We've been playing every three days since the start of the season and, in order to be successful, the players must not let emotion interfere with preparations - if you win or lose."
Like Davids, Conte came off the bench at half-time as Lippi hoped for a change in fortune after the break, and the veteran midfielder believed his Dutch team-mate was unlucky to see red.
"I feel sorry for him because I think the referee was too harsh," claimed Conte. "But Depor often make you commit to challenges that you shouldn't do because they are so strong in possession. You can go long periods without even touching the ball.
"We looked a bit tired after the derby last weekend, but I don't believe that was the case. We ran our hardest from the start of the game, but that's life. Now we have to make sure we put this defeat behind us by beating Bologna.
"Juventus fans can rest assured, they will see a great performance this weekend," vowed Conte.
