Ancelotti Says His Squad Will Give Lazio Tough Battle
Copyright � 1999 Nando Media
Copyright � 1999 Agence France-Presse
FLORENCE, Italy (November 8, 1999 8:11 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 Italian league title.
Ancelotti, speaking after his team drew 0-0 with Torino in Sunday night's derby, is delighted that Juventus has 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 here 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 defense 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 looks 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 has 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 its 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."
Ancelotti's analysis of the Serie A leadership was shared by AC Milan coach Alberto Zaccheroni, who doubted that Lazio could sustain simultaneous campaigns in Italy and Europe.
"Lazio is the best team at the moment, but the hard times will come for them too," he said.
"Look at Inter. They made a great start and now they're paying the price for having new management, just as we did last season. Every team are subject to highs and lows and Lazio can't go on as they are.
"(Soccer) teaches you that it is difficult to remain concentrated on two competitions at the same time. You only have to look at what's happened to Fiorentina - and that could happen soon to Lazio."
Zaccheroni, who received the "The Golden Bench" award here after being voted the Serie A's top coach by his peers, is all too familiar with the demands of fighting on two fronts.
Last week, his men had a place in the Champions League second round wrapped up until they lowered their guard and conceded two goals in the last four minutes to lose 3-2 to Galatasaray.
"We didn't live up to expectations in the Champions League," Zaccheroni admitted. "We didn't play with the same spirit and courage we've shown in the Serie A."
As for his award, he said, "I'm pleased with it, because it's one that comes from my colleagues. I just hope I don't get a phone call like the last coach who won it."
The 1998 winner was Gigi Simoni, who received a call here from Inter Milan not to congratulate him, but to announce that he had just been sacked.
