Zidane Loss Still Hurting Juve, Claims Trezeguet
Wednesday 27th March 2002
David Trezeguet has admitted Juventus lacked the strength in depth to be a serious contender for this season's Champions' League and has claimed the team hasn't yet recovered from the departure of Zinedine Zidane.
Juve, who won the Champions' League in 1996 and were runners-up in 1997 and 1998, crashed out of this season's competition after finishing bottom of their second round group.
And the France and Juve striker is in no doubt as to why they failed this time.
"We just have not got a team strong enough to get to the Champions' League quarter finals," he said. "Real Madrid or Manchester United can play their subs and do just as well."
He went on to argue that club had not recovered from the sale of France colleague Zidane to Real last summer.
"Since he left we have no real number ten," he said. "That has hurt us in terms of possession, especially away from home where we like to keep hold of the ball."
Despite bemoaning the team's poor show in Europe, the former Monaco striker insisted he is committed to the club.
He added: "I'd like to stay at Juventus one more season as the club is ambitious. We do need three more top players though."
Ironically, Trezeguet has thrived in Zidane's absence, forging a prolific striker partnership with Alessandro del Piero that has seen him score 18 times in 28 Serie A appearances this season.
Coach Marcelo Lippi struggled early on to get the best from Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved and despite an upswing in form, Juve's season is in danger of collapsing after their Champions' League exit was followed by defeat to Parma in Serie A last weekend.
Lippi's side are now four points off leaders Internazionale with six games to play.
