Juventus: The Empire Strikes Back
Agence France Press
MILAN, Italy (AFP) -- Jeered by critics and fans alike for its faltering start to the season, Juventus has reminded Italy why it is the most successful club in Serie A history. Down to 10 men after the controversial sending-off of Dutch goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar, Juventus showed character Sunday night against Inter Milan by defending a 1-0 lead and very nearly scoring a second.
Players and coaches may come and go, and team form this season may have been erratic -- witness the 1-1 draw with Reggina, a 2-0 defeat to Lecce and a very lucky 1-0 win over Venezia in injury-time. But the fighting spirit that has won the Turin club 25 league titles since it was started by a group of bored high school students in 1897 is now once again in full flow.
Sunday's victory ensured Juventus stays tied at the top of the Serie A with Lazio, while its place in next year's UEFA Cup quarterfinals has been secured by a winning streak that started with the Intertoto last July. Grit and determination have not been the only reason though for Juventus' recent success, founded partly on a water-tight defense that has conceded only six goals in 13 league matches - by far the best in Italy.
Results have also improved in line with the form of its all-star trident of Filippo Inzaghi, Alessandro Del Piero and Golden Ball winner Zinedine Zidane, the latter two both returning from surgery. Inzaghi's winner on Sunday night was his 18th goal of the season in all competition, and was neatly set up by a Del Piero run through the area.
An enthusiastic coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters: "If Juve keep this standard up, they can aim for absloutely any objective, they needn't be in the least bit frightened of anyone. "I also think it's important that we are succeeding in all the big matches," he said of a side who have now beaten Inter Milan, AC Milan and AS Roma, and held Lazio to a 0-0 draw at the Olympic stadium in Rome. And he added: "If Del Piero and Inzaghi continue to play like this, we're going to have fun."
The match at the Delle Alpi looked anything but fun in the 61st minute when Van Der Sar got his marching orders after wrongly being judged to have used his hands outside the area. But in the ensuing half-hour, Juventus showed why it is the rock on which Italy's soccer tradition has been built.
"In the second-half, we showed the character that's in the team," Ancelotti said. "We were very concentrated and very solid. The defense was very attentive and never eased up for one moment." And he even thanked the fickle fans who chanted his name in delight on Sunday night, just a couple of months after showering him with insults.
"The most satisfying thing of all for me was to see a stadium which has rediscovered its enthusiasm for Juventus," Ancelotti said. "And when that happens, it's a stadium that helps you."
