I am one goal from form, says Del Piero

September 7, 2000
Onefootball.com

Juventus star Alessandro del Piero has claimed scoring just a single goal will put his career back on track.

The forward, blamed for his club's failure to clinch last season's Scudetto and Italy's Euro 2000 final defeat, has admitted the criticism he has received over the last few months has hurt him but believes his next goal will be the turning point.

"Some people say I am finished," he said. "We will see if it's true. I reckon once I score my first goal next season everything will change. Once I score, I'll be back on track."

The Italy international, who has struggled with knee problems for the last 18 months, only scored once for his club from open play last season.

After netting a fine goal against Sweden in the group stages of this summer's tournament in the Low Countries, it looked as if Del Piero was on the mend.

But Italian newspaper Republica gave him a mark of 4.5 out of 10 for Sunday's 2-2 draw in Hungary - the lowest score for any Italian player on the night.

Del Piero said: "Being called the betrayer of Italy hurts, but I am not afraid of the critics. I think I played sufficiently well in Budapest, especially in the first half.

"It is strange that a few months ago Filippo Inzaghi (his Juventus and Italy strike partner) was on the grill. I scored with my left foot against Sweden and people said I had revived my career, but now I'm back in the firing line.

"But my situation is not drastic. Real dramas are for others. This is a negative patch in my career, but after my injuries I must regard myself as lucky that I have the chance to prove the critics wrong."
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