Del Piero urges Juve to stop mind lapses

January 18, 2002
Onefootball.com

Alessandro del Piero has urged his team-mates to stop losing their concentration in key games or risk losing ground on leaders Roma and Internazionale. "We are much too inattentive during matches," he said.

Juventus are five points adrift of Roma in top spot but the two sides meet in three weeks. And Del Piero has insisted that if his side are to close the gap on the top two, they have to continue working hard.

"Juventus need to improve and to get rid of some of our problems. It's true, we have worked hard and we have made up ground in the table: but we are struggling on three fronts, in Italy and in Europe.

"But we have to improve if we are to frighten our opponents. Soon we will meet Chievo and Roma, and these will be two really important matches."

Del Piero then added his voice to those calling for a longer winter break in Italy. "Icy pitches are affecting the league. The Delle Alpi stadium is excellent and our pitch is one of the best in Italy.

"But it seems quite impossible to play in other stadiums, like in Venice on Sunday and in Bergamo (against Atalanta) in the Coppa Italia on Thursday.

"It's not easy to play on icy pitches - this is true for teams that struggle for the Scudetto and for teams that struggle for survival.

"I think that in the future a winter break should be organised to ensure the safety of the players."
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