Buffon: "We have undertaken the right road"

After three victories in the championship, two of which in Rome, for Juventus it is time to make their debut even in the Champions League. On Tuesday the bianconeri will play their first match of the 2009/10 edition at the Olimpico against Bordeaux.

It is a new opportunity for the bianconeri to try and confirm themselves even in Europe:. This is the  objective of Buffon  – who was busy addressing the press conference together with Ferrara – and his team mates: «During Saturday’s match against Lazio, we never stopped fighting and believing in the victory even when we encountered difficulties. After just three matches in the championship it is still early to say for sure but we have undertaken the right road».

The bianconeri are therefore about to get back to Euroepan football and just like a year ago, the group stage is not a simple one. Buffon, therefore, wants a Juve that is ready to face the match against Bordeaux with the same ardor fielded against Real Madrid and Zenit: «last season we played against highly acclaimed opponents and yet we won the group and gave signs of being an important team. In the successive round we faced an improving Chelsea and we could have even gone through. Now it is still early to say if we can aim at winning the competition but we surely have a more competitive squad».

The squad was in fact strengthened by the signings of the likes of Cannavaro, Grosso, Felipe Melo, Caceres and especially Diego. The former Werder player will miss the  European debut and even though the news with regards to his injury are positive (7 days of recovery) and put everybody’s mind at rest, Buffon thinks that Juventus is ready for the appointment even without its Brazilian champion: «Diego is an important player for us and we would like him to play in every match but a great team cannot depend on one player. In order to be competitive it must have an ample squad with many players of a high level».

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Diego Wants To Make History With Juventus

Juventus playmaker Diego has been ruled out of the Champions League match with Bordeaux, but he is looking forward to playing in the competition as soon as possible."We face some good teams and for me there will be a special challenge - when we face Bayern in Germany, as they are my old rivals," he explained to UEFA's official website."I know that game, as well as many others, will be difficult. However, I think we will go far and do well in the competition."

Recently the Brazilian's style of play has gathered comparisons with stars of the past such as Zico, Gianfranco Zola and Roberto Baggio."I've always admired those players and I am glad to hear my name mentioned next to theirs," he continued."I want to write my own history at Juventus. I feel very happy and motivated here. The supporters send shivers down my back and I think I've begun to get to know my team-mates. I feel at home."

The Brazilian's absence is likely to make room for Italian youngster Sebastian Giovinco against the French side.

You Need A Winning Mentality To Play For Juventus - David Trezeguet

Tomorrow Juventus will host French champions Bordeaux in their opening Group A match in the Champions League. The team are coming off three straight victories in the league, so their morale is high, which seems to have been the case ever since coach Ciro Ferrara stepped in to replace Claudio Ranieri.

Striker David Trezeguet, who scored in last weekend's win against Lazio, talked about the club's winning mentality.

"Juventus have to go and win everywhere," he said to SkySport24. "I can say that because I've been at Juve for ten years. If you draw, no one is happy here. When a coach arrives at Juve, he has to win every Sunday, no draw matters, all that matters are the three points.

"The defeat against Chelsea last season was a very heavy one for us. But I think that, as in every league, there are different categories of teams. Juve are part of those that have to win every Sunday, as well as in the Champions League and the Coppa Italia. This is the winning mentality, the mentality they have taught me in these ten years."

Asked if the much-criticised Ranieri had that winning mentality, Trezeguet said, "I won't say whether the coach had a winning mentality or not. The coach did his work. I think the club was very clear with him, he did extraordinary work, but Juve are about winning, if you don't win that's what happens."

 Goal.com