Diego: Juventus Are Good Enough To Win The Scudetto & Champions League

Juventus star Diego is 'convinced' his side can wrest the Scudetto from Inter, and win the Champions League this season.

The Bianconeri invested heavily this summer with trophies in mind. Diego arrived from Werder Bremen in a mega deal, and Felipe Melo was drafted in from Fiorentina in a similar transfer.

After a three-year drought, the Old Lady is ready to start scooping up trophies, and Diego is ready to get the ball rolling.

"With the team we have, I am convinced we can aim for the Scudetto as well as the Champions League," Diego told Tuttosport.

"We are Juventus, and we can never be happy just to be the participants."

Juventus get their Serie A campaign under way this weekend when they welcome Chievo Verona to the Olimpico.

Olympique Lyonnais Right-Back Francois Clerc Waiting For Juventus' Call

Juventus are lining up a bid for Olympique Lyonnais right-back Francois Clerc, who missed much of last term due to a serious knee injury.

Although a number of the powers-that-be at the Old Lady have claimed that their summer transfer campaign is over, they will be forced into action again if Fenerbahce meet their asking price for Zdenek Grygera.

The Czech is valued at around €6 million, a price-tag Fener have been reluctant to meet so far.

In case of Grygera's departure, Juventus have been drawing up a shortlist of replacement right-backs, with Schalke's Rafinha, Lazio's Lorenzo De Silvestri and Lyon's Clerc the most prominent figures.

Juve are hoping to pick the latter up on the cheap, as his contract ends in 2010. Clerc is currently refusing to renew his deal with OL, leaving the door open for a move to Turin.

"The gossip has reached me, [but there are] no official offers yet," Clerc told Tuttosport.

"Juve is one of those clubs that no player could turn down. It is up to them when they want to come forward - I am here.

"[Serie A] is a great league, and for a professional footballer it represents an exciting challenge. In principle, it is an experience that I would like to try but that is discounting my current contract situation."

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I Am Tired - Juventus Midfielder Felipe Melo

Felipe Melo has admitted that his pre-season performances have not been up to par because he is fatigued after a hectic summer of football.
The Brazil international midfielder arrived at Juventus on a wave of expectation and euphoria, but his performances in a Bianconeri shirt so far have not been of the standard that many were hoping for.
The 26-year-old has responded to the criticism, claiming that he is tired after a non-stop summer.

"In the last few outings I have felt a bit of tiredness from so many games and continual travel," Melo told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I had little time to rest after the Confederations Cup. My condition will be better for the game against Roma [on August 30].

"However, I believe that the team has played very positively in pre-season, we have worked hard and well. We can still improve a lot," Melo concluded.

The Old Lady's pre-season has been promising, with their new signings integrating themselves into the squad well.

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Marchisio: «We are ready»

With the Trofeo Berlusconi having been archived, the summer friendly matches of Juventus also came to an end. As from Sunday it is down to the serious staff with the first championship match day. Claudio Marchisio, one of the absolute protagonists both in bianconero and in azzurro with which he debuted less then a week ago, analyzed the situation: «We had a good pre-season reaching the Peace Cup final, winning the Trofeo Tim and losing the Trofeo Berlusconi only after penalties. We played well, especially in the first half while in the second we had a physical decline. However, this match has satisfied us because we managed to do what the coach asked of us». The summer saw an important change on formation level: «It is not the 4-4-2 formation which was traditional for years and which we adopted in the last seasons. At first we found a few difficulties but we worked well and the results are beginning to show».

On what he expects from this season both on team and personal level, Marchisio has no doubts: «To go on like this. It was an important summer to me, both for the work done and the debut with the national team, but most of all I think that on team level we must aim high in all competitions because with this team, strengthened by the new signings, we can win on all fronts. We are at the start of the season. There is time for improvement but I think we are at a good point». Is Inter always the team to beat? «I think, that not withstanding Ibrahimovic’s departure, they were strengthened, but we must look at ourselves because in football the one who is most hungry for success is the one that wins. We must also improve against the smaller teams, something which we missed last year».

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Cannavaro: «Diego is a very important player»

During the launch of the new sky schedule, Fabio Cannavro spoke of the Trofeo Berlusconi and the bianconeri’s ambition for the season that is about to begin: «Juventus played a very good match in Milan. Diego showed he is a very important player for our formations. The club invested a lot of money. After 3 years it wants to get back to celebrating with its supporters».Asked about the incredible wages, Cannavaro answered: «I set an example. The crisis is not only due to players’ wages. Definitely, something must be done».

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