Lamela hails ´true great´ Pirlo

2 September 2012 06:45

Roma midfielder Erik Lamela has labelled Andrea Pirlo as the key to Juventus' bid for a second successive Serie A title.

Zdenek Zeman's side take on Inter at the San Siro on Sunday as they look to bounce back from last week's 2-2 draw against Catania, while Juventus travel to Udinese, with Lamela paying homage to the veteran Pirlo.

"Pirlo is a true great, and Juventus have an advantage with him," the 20-year-old told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Roma are also hoping for the Scudetto however. We and Inter will be waiting directly behind them. Our match at San Siro promises to be a lot of fun.

"There will be plenty of goals, and I believe we can aim to win."

The Argentina international has come under criticism from fans for his lacklustre performances since arriving from River Plate in August last year, but he remains unfazed.

"The fans say I'm paid too much? I don't mind such comments really, criticism now and then for a player is natural," Lamela said.

Guidolin looks ahead after European heartbreak

2 September 2012 04:06

Udinese's Francesco Guidolin has spoken of his disappointment at losing in the Champions League playoffs for the second consecutive year.

After bowing out against Arsenal last season, Udinese again failed to make the group stages this year, losing to Portuguese club Braga on penalties.

After losing a host of top talent in the last 18 months, Guidolin knows he will find it difficult to have another opportunity to guide the club through to the latter stages of Europe's elite competition.

For now, Udinese most re-focus their efforts on a match at home to reigning Serie A champions Juventus on Sunday.

"We need to look ahead now, because that's how life goes and that's how sport goes," Guidolin said.

"We need to focus on tomorrow's game and give all that we have with great determination and with all the qualities a team should have when facing the team that won the league last season ... and that are the favourite to win this season.

"We need to do our best also because we will have a very difficult season ahead of us, so we need to try to gain as many points as we can to avoid the relegations zone, that's our first aim."

Reports emerged last week claiming Guidolin would walk out on the club after the disappointment of their failure against Braga.

But the coach restated his determination to stay and improve on the efforts of predecessors Luciano Spalletti and Sense Cosmi, who took Udinese to the Champions League group stages.

"I love this team and my aim, or rather my dream, was to be the first manager to participate to the Champions League (knock-outs) with Udinese - because Spalletti and Cosmi accompanied Udinese to the group stage," he said.

"To be the first one to accompany the team to the various (stages of the) Champions League would have been something extraordinary because at this point of my career and at my age history counts more than career, glory counts more than money."

"I'm married to this team and this family and it's not true I was snubbed by top teams, I had the chance to go if I wanted but I didn't want (to) because I'm married to this team.

"I want to stay here, and being ambitious I really would have liked to be the one who accompanied Udinese to make history."

Carrera fearful of Udinese challenge

1 September 2012 19:06

Juventus interim coach Massimo Carrera has warned his players of the challenge that Udinese pose on Sunday.

Udinese recently failed to secure a place in the Champions League group stage at the final hurdle, crashing out on penalties to Braga in the last round of qualification.

Carrera, deputising for the suspended Antonio Conte, has urged his side to expect a backlash when they travel to the Friuli for matchday two of the new Serie A season.

"We will encounter a team with wounded pride," the former Italy defender said at a press conference.

"These are the most serious of challenges and will not be easy. Juve will have to give 110 per cent.

"They can create trouble for us if we don't approach the game with the right attitude and determination."

Carrera also praised Juve's activity in the transfer window, which saw them bring in the likes of Sebastian Giovinco, Lucio, Kwadwo Asamoah, Mauricio Isla and Nicklas Bendtner.

"Satisfied with the market? We have a competitive squad," he said.

"We are happy to be back and to have players that have won the Champions League. We will try to do what everyone expects from Juve; move forward as much as possible."

Marchisio focused on Udinese test

1 September 2012 07:30

Juventus' Claudio Marchisio has not let the draw for the Champions League group stage affect his focus on a stern test against Udinese on Sunday.

Juve have not played in European competition for two seasons, but the Italy midfielder has eyes only for their Serie A clash with Francesco Guidolin's side, who were recently dumped out of the elite club tournament by Braga.

"Udinese have been a competitive side for a number of years," the Euro 2012 finalist told Filo Diretto.

"It's a shame they've gone out of the Champions League, they played well against Braga and only just missed out.

"They'll try and convert their disappointment into motivation, and we're aware that it won't be easy to go and win at the Stadio Friuli."

Juve were grouped with Shakhtar Donetsk, Chelsea and Nordsjaelland in Group E of the 2012/13 Champions League on Thursday.

They opened the new league season with a 2-0 victory over Parma, while Udinese fell 2-1 to Fiorentina at the Artemio Franchi.