Ancelotti Gives Juventus Top Marks
Copyright � 1999 Nando Media
Copyright � 1999 Agence France-Presse
FLORENCE, Italy (November 8, 1999 3:46 p.m. EST http://www.sportserver.com) - Juventus coach Carlo Ancelotti paid tribute to his defenders on Monday and promised that Lazio would face a tough battle for the Serie A title.
Ancelotti, speaking after his team drew 0-0 with Torino in Sunday night's derby, is delighted that Juventus have Italy's best defensive record with only five goals conceded.
Juventus is second in the table, three points behind Lazio, and gathering pace after an erratic start to the season.
"We've had too many ups and downs so far and we need to be more consistent," he said during a coaches' seminar on Monday. "But this Juve really is a competitive team.
"A lot of questions were being asked about us, but we've shown we can do well. We're in a good position and I'm not surprised about it.
"Our defence is a source of pride for me," he went on. "So many things have been said and written about it, but (Ciro) Ferrara and his men have proved they are more than just reliable."
The only disappointment so far is a poor scoring record. Sandwiched between Lazio (23) and AC Milan (21) in the league table, Juventus' figure of 10 goals look miserly.
Alessandro Del Piero and Filippo Inzaghi, who had talked pre-season about scoring nearly 60 between them - as they did back in 1997-98 - have so far only managed five.
"We haven't scored many goals so far, but it's not a problem. They'll come," he assured.
"Alex' has been fit and ready for a while now, he just needs to get back his scoring touch ... and 'Pippo' isn't finishing like he can, but he's kept fighting and he's doing well."
Lazio have set a punishing pace in the Serie A, but Ancelotti said: "Everyone is hoping they won't be able to keep it up. They're a good team and they're on form, depsite all the commitments they have.
"But the championship is getting serious now and I'm sure it will be undecided right to the end. There are still a lot of determined challengers, perhaps with the exception of Fiorentina, who are a bit further back and who seem to be concentrating more on the Champions League.
"AC Milan are out of Europe, Inter are paying the price for all the changes but will bounce back and AS Roma and Parma are both on the way up. And we're certainly looking to stay in the top group."
Juventus' next match is against AC Milan, but their hopes are also being pinned on the outcome of Lazio's forthcoming derby with AS Roma.
"A lot of people will be supporting Roma," Ancelotti said. "And not just Roma fans."
