Del Piero Puts Season On The Line
Saturday 2nd March 2002
Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero has admitted that the Turin side's season will be decided in the coming weeks, with Serie A games against Bologna and Internazionale and the Champions' League encounter at Bayer Leverkusen.
"Our season comes down to these games," said Del Piero. "We are going through a difficult period but I won't say we are in crisis, at the moment."
After slipping to third place in the league, following a 2-2 draw with city-rivals Torino, Juve then lost 2-0 at Deportivo La Coruna in the Champions League; a result that saw them drop below the Spaniards and Arsenal in their group.
"Deportivo played better than us but we can still qualify for the next stage and there is no reason why we cannot win everything," added the Italy international. "However, we need a win in Germany and then really go for it at home to Arsenal."
Juve's task in Spain was not helped by the Edgar Davids receiving a red card shortly after coming on as a substitute, but Del Piero, for one, refused to lay any blame on his team-mate.
"I would never accuse him for letting the side down and if I had anything to say to him I would have before speaking to the media," he said.
Juve take on Bologna at home on Sunday.
