Alex as good as his word
May 7, 2000
Juventus Official Site
Alessandro Del Piero has
dedicated his winning goal against Parma to Giovanni Agnelli, the Juventus
honorary president. Del Piero struck on the hour on Sunday to keep the
League leaders on course for the title. On a personal note, he etched his
name onto a Serie A score-sheet for the first time in 19 months.
But according to the Bianconeri
number 10, he owes his change of luck to Agnelli, who had asked him for
a goal only the previous Friday during a visit to the Comunale training
ground. “He basically demanded that I score,” laughed Alex. “And I was
happy to oblige. I hope Mr Agnelli does it more often.”
However, Del Piero’s sense
of relief extends only as far as his own desperate – and now fulfilled
– search for a goal. They say that a week is a long time in football, but
after waiting since 18 October 1998 to get back among the goals, the 25-year-old
insists on keeping the champagne on ice for another seven days. Del Piero
is adamant that Juventus’ current two-point advantage over second-placed
Parma will not be enough. “There are still 90 minutes to go,” declared
the Italian international. “We have to go to Perugia and give our all to
take maximum points.”
Yet for Del Piero, the gloss
was staying on his 100th career goal. Parma defender Fabio Cannavaro purportedly
said that there was a push on Paolo Vanoli in the build-up to Alex’s strike
- but here the Juventus man suffered a convenient memory block. “I don’t
really remember what went on leading up to the goal, only the immediate
aftermath.” We believe you Alex; hundreds wouldn’t.
.