Alex wants wider goals

March 6, 2000
Juventus Official Site

Alex Del Piero can have no doubts about how the fans feel about him. His every touch of the ball during the Bari match - each dribble, every tackle, the penalty he scored and the header which hit the post in the final moments - was accompanied by a united chorus (literally) of approval.

There is no question that Del Piero is the Juve crowd's favourite son, they who have patiently awaited his return to form. Their support has unquestionably been a major driving force for Del Piero during his comeback, and the man himself knows it. "When I hit the post I couldn't help but laugh because we were winning as we were on Thursday, while when I missed in the Venezia game this wasn´t the case. It's all about emotions, but if I am able to look on the bright side of things the credit goes to the fans who never fail to get behind me whether I am playing well, badly or indifferently.

"Maybe it's my destiny just to set-up goals this year,” Del Piero continued. “I shall have to start counting the posts and woodworks that I have struck instead." 

But even the harshest critics would be hard pushed to find fault with a performance of the calibre of Del Piero’s against Bari – goal or no goal.

And Carlo Ancelotti, the Juve coach, knows only too well that he has a match-winner on his hands. “You only have to look at the Celta Vigo match when Del Piero came on and turned the game. Just watching the great man at work makes you realise the importance of his contribution to Juve's successes on the pitch.”
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