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Inter Milan won't faze Juventus coach

June 14, 1999
AFP

MILAN, Italy -- Juventus coach Carlo Ancelotti on Monday played down Inter Milan's $75 million attack duo of Christian Vieri and Ronaldo, hinting they could be a disappointment.

Inter Milan multi-millionaire owner Massimo Moratti is stopping at nothing to build a first-rate team next season for new coach Marcello Lippi, while 1998 champion Juventus is content holding onto its money.

Ancelotti said big signings are no guarantee of success and that qualities like grit, determination and dedication cannot be bought on the transfer market.

Asked about Inter's moves on the transfer scene, Ancelotti said: "Inter are fairly competitive. But all this off-season talk in summer counts for little or nothing. It's what happens on the pitch that counts."

As for Vieri and Ronaldo, he added: "They are a good combination on paper. But it's how well they perform in matches, and the kind of support they are able to get from the rest of the team, that'll decide whether they really are the best."

He went on: "What people tend to forget, particularly at this time of year, that it's not just having great players that decides results over the season. You need other qualities as well.

"And Juventus have clearly had those in recent years, more than all the other sides -- things that have grown out of their extraordinary desire to win. And that is something that you can't just go out and buy."

And after Inter spent 90 billion lira ($48 million) on Vieri, Ancelotti said: "I have never thought that paying 90 billion or 300 billion lira is any guarantee of success."

Juventus has so far limited its moves to new goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar, who replaces Inter-bound Angelo Peruzzi, and Yugoslav striker Darko Kovacevic, from Real Sociedad.

Although the club is still being linked with Ancelotti's former protege at Parma, Argentine striker Hernan Crespo, its main challenge is to keep and to improve the performance of its existing players.

Alessandro Del Piero is preparing his return from injury next month after a nine-month absence, but his year-long negotiations over a new contract need to be brought to a conclusion.

World Cup star Zinedine Zidane needs to improve on last season's disappointing displays, while the Turin club is also trying to persuade his skipper at France '98, Didier Deschamps, to stay on for another year.
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