Juve Exit 'No Tragedy' For Moggi
Wednesday 13th March 2002
Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi has claimed that it is a relief to be out of the Champions' League following Tuesday's 3-1 defeat away to Bayer Leverkusen. "Obviously we are sad, but we can take advantage of playing just one game a week," he said.
Without seven regular first team players, Juventus turned in a disappointing performance, and were well-beaten by the Bundesliga leaders.
"In these circumstances it's not so bad to be out of the Champuions' League," Moggi went on. "With so many injured players, it isn't a surprise, and now we can focus on Serie A.
"We have to think that it will be useful in the run-in to the scudetto, so it's not a tragedy."
Juventus lie third in Serie A, a point behind leaders Internazionale and Roma.
German goalkeeper Hans-Jorg Butt gave the hosts a first-half lead, slotting home a penalty after 24 minutes.
Croatia midfielder Igor Tudor, on as a half-time substitute for Gianluca Pessotto, leveled the scores but Thomas Brdaric netted a second for Leverkusen 20 minutes from time and Marco Babic confirmed the result late on.
