Ronaldo, Juventus Sweep Italian Awards
Copyright � 1998 Nando.net
Copyright � 1998 Reuters
MILAN (Sep 22, 1998 - 12:02 EDT) - Tributes and trophies were showered on Ronaldo and Juventus as the two rivals swept the board at the Italian soccer Oscars.
Ronaldo was voted Player of the Year by members of the Italian Footballers' Union, and was also named Best Foreign Player at the ceremony on Monday night.
Juventus were voted best team, with the reigning champions picking up three further prizes for Alessandro Del Piero as Best Italian Player, Marcello Lippi as best coach and Angelo Peruzzi as best goalkeeper.
Best Young Player went to Lazio defender Alessandro Nesta, who is still recovering after damaging cruciate ligaments during Italy's World Cup campaign in France.
Ronaldo said: 'It's really moving to have won the award, it's perhaps the most important one I have ever had because it comes from the players, and from a championship as difficult as the Italian one.
'It was a particularly tough season for Inter and a new one has already started. I'm doing everything I can to reach top form and I can see that I'm improving every day.
'Match after match, I realise things are getting better and that soon I'll be able to play my best football.'
Del Piero played down his defeat to the Brazilian for the top prize, saying: 'I'm happy for him. It doesn't matter that I didn't win, it's great just to be here with all these top players.'
The striker received an even more precious award on Sunday, when his teammates voted to give him the captain's armband.
'It was a wonderful surprise,' Del Piero admitted. 'Even though I'm the captain from now on, I'll still listen to what Peruzzi, Di Livio and Ferrara have to say. They were examples to me, and they still are today.'
Lippi was satisfied with his prize, and the fact that his team have six points from two league games despite being short of their best.
'As far as the results go, everything is fine,' he said. 'The team however have to improve, though that's only to be expected.'
Title challengers Inter, Parma and Lazio have only won one game between them so far, but Lippi said: 'I'm convinced it's all down to the physical preparation.
'Teams who have provided players for the national side and who are also in European competition haven't had great results. There have been few wins and a lot of draws.'
