Alex starts Berlusconi Trophy

August 16, 1999
Juventus Official Site

After giving his players four days off, Carlo Ancelotti was back taking training at Turin’s “Communale” stadium in preparation for the Berlusconi Trophy against Milan on Tuesday evening at the San Siro.

The Bianconero coach has Van der Sar, Mirkovic, Tudor, Montero and Kovacevic all on international duty, but can still call upon a top class line up at the San Siro.

Once again there’s something regarding Del Piero. Alex, who has come off the bench for the last Two Intertoto Cup games, will start as Inzaghi’s partner up front.

Juventus fans will witness for an hour at least, the return of the potent Inzaghi-Del Piero partnership as the twin-strikers look to repeat their exploits of the 1997/98 season.

Zidane will come on for the second forty-five minutes and another surprise is the return of Esnaider for the first time since an operation on his tendon. He will start on the bench.

Ancelotti may be left with some doubts, but not over the situation with Amoruso: “When someone is unclear on his contractual position with a club then there’s no way that player can sit on the bench. There was a time when contracts were settled quickly, but now it takes longer, but everyone really wants to see Nicola stay with the team.”

Returning to the San Siro is always emotional for Ancelotti: “For sure, admits the Juventus coach – but I know that we have always done well against Milan.”

Ancelotti answers the claim that whichever team loses the Berlusconi Trophy goes on to do well in the season: “I don’t agree with this opinion. However, we want to do well in this game because it’s always a fascinating encounter. Even if it’s a friendly, it’s still an official game with a trophy at stake.”

It’s still too early to draw conclusions from this game: “It’s important to do well, but there is still a few things that can be improved as the new defensive formation needs time to bed in.”

We are awaiting news from Holland on Edgar Davids who today saw a specialist on his right eye.
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