Del Piero - Alive and kicking

August 29, 1999
Juventus Official Site

Alessandro Del Piero will be an integral part of things when his Juventus team attempts to win back the Scudetto from Milan. With his convincing comeback performances of the summer, in the friendlies and in the Intertoto Cup, Juventus’ artificer-in-chief is now at the same level of preparation as his team-mates and has thus reached the target that he had set for himself at the beginning of pre-season: "I want to be able to play for the full 90 minutes by the beginning of the new season".

Del Piero is indeed in that position: against Reggina, Alex will make his top-flight return in the Delle Alpi stadium. He is guaranteed a warm reception from the fans at the ground from which he has been absent since November 1st. Since the accident in Udine, those stands have witnessed his faithful presence as a spectator. On the occasion of his comeback, Alex speaks of a long-term objective: "I want to get back to the Champions League as soon as possible, so we must get the Scudetto or at least fourth place in the Championship". He has been waiting for the moment for months. Even after the first few games, the friendlies and the Intertoto Cup, Alessandro Del Piero kept on saying: "My aim is to be ready to play for the whole 90 minutes in the first match of the Serie A".

His objective has now become reality: in Rennes, Del Piero left the pitch five minutes before the end of the game, suggesting that his recovery is almost complete. "I am happy about the way I have played so far, but in the future I aim higher, because I am aware of the fact that I will have to improve both in terms of quality and the on-field presence. I have also created some significant opportunities, such as the one which allowed Zambrotta to score against Rennes."

Alex appears calm: "I have been putting in the work and there’s been no injury setback. I have gone at my own pace but with a lot of determination, which has has paid dividends".

An important season is about to start for both player and club. The Italian international has been missing from the thrilling fields of Italian football ever since that fateful November day in Udine. It promises to be a fascinating championship. All the teams have been strengthened, including Juve. It will be interesting to see how some clubs cope with unaccustomed European commitments. Others, like Milan, should not have problems.

"The group that will be fighting for the title is made up of seven teams and at present it is impossible to separate them. For example, not much has been said about Lazio but they have beaten Manchester United in the European Super Cup," he said. He declares the side’s intention to fight it out on all fronts, but the imperative is to be able to take part in next year’s Champions League.

From the San Siro, where he earned the plaudits of the Milan public, to the covers of the newspapers, Del Piero is a face of football and consequently a footballer with great responsibility for the image of his sport. " I am one of those players, like Vieri and Totti, who are under public scrutiny more than others. I am also in the limelight now because I was out of the game from last November. I accept the responsibility in a calm manner because after what I have been faced with in these past months, I feel that I have improved both on a human and a professional level."

Against Reggina it will be the same Juventus that did for Rennes on Tuesday, still missing Davids, waiting for authorization to play from Italy’s football authorities - part of his treatment for glaucoma is considered a diurectic aid and as a result is banned. His team-mate understands how frustrated the Dutch midfielder must feel: "It is a frustrating situation for him and indirectly also for us, because we have to do without someone of his quality."

As for the identity of Italian football’s ‘supergrass’, Del Piero commented: "I have seen the interviews on TV at Nizzola and Calori. I do not like this climate of suspicion and if someone has sold a game it should be brought out into the open. As far as I am concerned football is clean. I wait to judge. I want first to understand what it is all about." The Juventus talisman smiled before adding: "I have never known a defender to let me score on purpose!"
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