From the papers

September 26, 2000
Juventus Official Site

Carlo Ancelotti and his players might have choked on their breakfast somewhat when perusing this morning's Gazzetta dello Sport whose headline screams: "Wake up Juve!" On the inside pages it reports that Ancelotti already has the answer to all Juve's problems. This evening the Bianconeri will play hosts to Deportivo La Coruna and Ancelotti reassures fans: "My Juve know where they went wrong, and can sort out the problem." The hope, once again, is that Filippo Inzaghi has his shooting boots on, but the team also needs Zinedine Zidane to be on form. Selection-wise the Gazzetta claims that Alessandro Birindelli is set to be preferred to Michele Paramatti before arguing that Filippo Inzaghi is the man carrying Juve at the moment. The Bianconeri will hope that SuperPippo's goals can fire them into the next round as the striker hotly pursues Roberto Bettega's club record of 27 goals in European competition.

The Milan pink also comments on the role of captain Antonio Conte who claims: "We all need to show more heart." The paper also takes a trip down memory lane by referring back to the 1977 UEFA Cup final between Juventus and Athletic Bilbao. The Deportivo coach, Javier Irureta actually played in the team that was beaten by Giovanni Trapattoni's Juve on that occasion. Revenge-seeking Irureta claims: "Now we can beat them if we play our own game. But we can't afford to slip up with Inzaghi."

The Corriere dello Sport comments on Alessandro Del Piero whose place in the team seems to be in no doubt: "Juve, Del Piero will play," is their headline. The Juventus coach will apparently opt for Del Piero over David Trezeguet and has also gone as far as to admit: "I don't think that the whole team will suddenly be able to recapture their form, but with character and hard work we can do it." The Rome-based daily also reports that Conte will have to be happy with the bench, while Trezeguet should come on in the final stages. The Deportivo team news confirms that injured Brazilian Dialminha will be replaced by young hotshot Pandiani. Conte is also in battle cry mood yet again, telling his team-mates: "Put some heart into it! We've got to show that the Brescia match was a one-off. Now we've got to win for the club, the fans and our coach."

Tuttosport headlines with an amazing, and most likely utterly outlandish, transfer story: "Del Piero in swap deal with Recoba." The paper reveals that Inter president Massimo Moratti is still struggling to agree a deal with the Uruguayan playmaker and that the swap deal is more than just a pipe dream and could actually happen! The Turin-based daily also reports on Juve's defensive problems. With Gianluca Zambrotta out for a month after a cartilage operation the club is on the lookout for a defender.
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