Alex's scoring problem

February 10, 2000
Juventus Official Site

No matter where Alessandro Del Piero goes, there is always someone lurking around the corner waiting to plague him with the same old questions about when he is finally going to score from open play. Striking the crossbar against Cagliari last weekend has only served to exacerbate the situation.

Football experts and armchair psychologists have touted various theories ranging from a confidence crisis, to bad luck, to some subconscious reason (yet to be discovered). So what does the man himself have to say? "Sometimes, instead of taking a shot I've spotted a team-mate in a better position than me and passed to him, as I did for Inzaghi against Bologna." It would be easy, then, to explain Del Piero's goal drought by redefining it as improved team-play - no longer just a goal machine, Del Piero's work-rate has increased and he has turned playmaker too. "But I don't want to hide behind justifications of this kind in order to explain away unsatisfactory performances and a lack of goals," Del Piero insists. "I still feel I have got a long way to go before I reach my best. I'm aware of that."

Ultimately, however, one sure-fire answer would end this debate for good. "I hope that after the match against Lecce on Sunday, nobody will need to ask me when I'm going to score from open play," Del Piero says, adding, "Lecce are the only side to beat us in the League so far this season. Let's hope it stays that way."
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