From the papers

October 18, 2000
Juventus Official Site

Today's papers turn the spotlight on Deportivo-Juventus - tonight's crucial Group E match. The one thing that manager Ancelotti seems certain of is that a win will ensure Juve go on to qualify for the next stage.

The Gazzetta dello Sport reports that all eyes in La Coruña are on Alex Del Piero. The Juve number 10 will play in Zinedine Zidane's role, wide left, with Filippo Inzaghi and Darko Kovacevic in a front two. The Milan pink carries the comments of Carlo Ancelotti: "The match will only be decisive if we win. The key is to be aggressive and keep the pace of the game high."

The thinking behind, Del Piero being drawn back is to create space for the front-two, with Ancelotti hoping that the diminutive Italian will be able to probe and create chances for the forwards. Ancelotti argues that the Italian international will be adopting the playmaker's role "for the good of the team."

On the inside pages space is given to captain Antonio Conte. "The game with Bari was exhausting, let's hope we don't feel the after effects," he says. "A defeat would be serious. We shouldn't disguise that. We will try and impose our game, but even a draw would be OK."

Tuttosport states boldly that Juve must do better than the 0-0 of the home leg so at to not run any risks. Inzaghi states, "I want to win and beat Roberto Bettega's record. I have got over a bad bout of flu and I'm glad to be able to give the team a hand."

The manager is also given space to lift Alex. "If we win we will go on to qualify. I have asked Alex to show more consistency after his good performance in Naples. It is time that he puts away more decisive goals. We have to give the Spaniards no time to think."

In the Corriere dello Sport there are more words from the manager for Alex and his 'new' role, "He's a forward who can adapt well to his new role. He has scored some important goals. It's time he scored a few such goals in the Champions League as well."
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