Zebina: ‘Winning the Europa League won’t be that bad’

February 15, 2010

On Sunday, Juventus beat Genoa (3-2). It was the first win in the Serie A for more than a month and it has provided the Bianconeri with a lot of self confidence.

French defender Jonathan Zebina thinks Juventus can go on to win the Europa League this season.

Allessandro Del Piero’s successful spot-kick secured Juve’s first win under the new manager Alberto Zaccheroni. Afterwards right back Zebina hailed the team’s efforts.

“The turning point victory? For now it’s a victory and it’s ok,” Zebina said on the club’s official website.

“Obtained thanks to everybody’s help, of the group that fatherly compacted and also of the audience that helped us a lot.

“And when there are these conditions winning it’s easier, also thanks to episodes, like it happened today.”

Winning the Serie A title is no longer on Zebina’s mind but the former Roma defender thinks the Bianconeri can win the first edition of the Europa League.

“It’s up to us going on with the series. The season is still far to go and targets are not missing, it won’t be the Scudetto, but winning the Europe League won’t be that bad.”

Tags: Alberto Zaccheroni, audience, bianconeri, Del Piero, Europe, europe league, genoa, jonathan, jonathan zebina, juventus, manager, Obtained, point victory, Roma, scudetto, self confidence, targets, turning point

Ferrara interested in Arsenal duo Eboue and Sagna

November 6, 2009

Juventus boss Ciro Ferrara is said to have set his eyes strongly on Arsenal pair Emmanuel Eboue and Bacary Sagna for a swap during the January transfer window.

The Italian reports state that Zdenek Grygera’s inconsistent form and the persistent injury problems of first choice defender Jonathan Zebina has left Ferrara with no choice but ponder alternatives in the European market.

Sagna has made the right-back spot under Arsene Wenger his own since arriving in the Premier League from Auxerre for £6.5million in 2007, and would surely be unlikely to leave the Emirates Stadium given his position in a progressive side.

Eboue, also 26, however, has been linked with a move away from the Gunners before, having endured an unhappy spell last season, which resulted in sections of the Emirates booing him.

The Ivorian has reportedly been a target for Barcelona, Fiorentina and Atletico Madrid in the past, and having failed to secure a regular spot in the Gunners’ side, may favour a move to Italy.

The report claims Italy’s ‘Old Lady’ may make an ambitious double raid on the pair in January, although Arsene Wenger is unlikely to entertain the idea of selling either of his players, let alone both.

Anurada Bhat

Tags: arsenal, arsene wenger, atletico madrid, auxerre, Barcelona, emirates, Emirates Stadium, emmanuel eboue, favour, fiorentina, first choice, gunners, Italy, ivorian, jonathan zebina, MADRID, old lady, persistent injury, premier league, progressive side, sagna, target, Zdenek Grygera

Trezeguet looking to Juve revival

November 3, 2009

Juventus striker David Trezeguet has urged his team-mates to put all thoughts of their defeat against Napoli to their back of their minds as they seek victory against Maccabi Haifa in Tuesday night’s Champions League clash.

The Bianconeri go into the game on the back of Saturday’s surprise 3-2 loss, which saw them drop seven points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan. And the result marked Juve’s first league defeat at home in nine months.

“It’s an ugly defeat considering we were leading 2-0,” said Trezeguet.

“But we need to have a positive outlook.

“There are still many games left to play in the domestic season and, although we know we have a lot of work to do, we are aware that we will have a chance to recover.

“We cannot think too much about this defeat because on Tuesday we have a crucial Champions League game.

“Depending on how we respond to this game, it will reveal the true value of this group.”

The Turin giants travel to Israel sitting second in Group A, two points behind group leaders Bordeaux.

With the French side facing a more challenging task when they travel to the Allianz Arena to meet third-place Bayern Munich, Ciro Ferrara’s men know a win in Israel could see them take command of the group.

“It’s a key game for us in our European adventure,” said Juve forward Amauri. “We cannot fail, we must take all three points.”

The Bianconeri will be without the injured Alessandro Del Piero, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Jonathan Zebina and Mohammed Sissoko.

However, winger Mauro Camoranesi has travelled with the team despite needing four stitches in a head wound he sustained against Napoli.

Maccabi will be hoping to break their duck having failed to claim a point or even score a goal so far in the group.

But Juve will not take Maccabi lightly, and for good reason.

Elisha Levi’s side made life difficult for the Turin giants last month, with Giorgio Chiellini’s goal proving the only difference between the two sides.

Even though Levi’s team had to play with 10 men for 22 minutes in Turin following Tiago Dutra’s sending off and he believes they can reverse the outcome.

“It’s going to be difficult because Juventus have lots of stars,” said Levi.

“But we already showed that we can put them under pressure in our last game and, hopefully, we can take a good result at home.”

The Israeli champions go into the encounter in buoyant mood after continuing their perfect start to the Ligat Ha’Al by beating Maccabi Netanya 2-0 on Saturday.

The result marked their eighth successive league victory but the hosts will be without midfielders Baram Kayal and Dutra, who are both serving one-match bans.

Midfielder Eyal Golasa is still sidelined with a hip injury while Levi will be hoping Brazilian midfielder Gustavo Boccoli recovers from an ankle problem.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: Al, Alessandro Del Piero, Bayern, ciro ferrara, david trezeguet, Elisha Levi, european adventure, french side, giants travel, giorgio chiellini, group leaders, Gustavo Boccoli, inter milan, israel, jonathan zebina, juventus, league game, mauro camoranesi, Milan, mohammed sissoko, napoli, positive outlook, seven points, team mates, turin, vincenzo iaquinta, winger

Bologna´s Adailton denies Juventus return to top

September 27, 2009

Bologna’s veteran Brazilian forward Adailton scored an equaliser deep into injury time to deny Juventus a return to the top of the Serie A table following a 1-1 draw in Turin.

The draw left Juve one point behind leaders Sampdoria, who beat champions Inter Milan 1-0 on Saturday.

Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi salvaged AS Roma coach Claudio Ranieri’s unbeaten league start in charge of the giallorosso as his injury-time strike earned a 1-1 draw at Catania.

Slovakian midfielder Marek Hamsik eased the pressure on former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni as his brace gave Napoli a 2-1 home win over Siena.

In Turin it was a game of two halves as former France forward David Trezeguet rolled back the years and came close to a first-half hat-trick before Bologna laid siege to the Juve goal after the break to snatch a dramatic late share of the spoils.

Trezeguet came close with a left-foot volley that Emiliano Viviano tipped around the post.

He then gave the northern giants the lead on 24 minutes after Jonathan Zebina’s storming run into the box and shot came back off Viviano and a defender to present Trezeguet with a close range tap-in.

Returning playmaker Diego then set up the former Monaco man for a left foot finish that flashed just past the upright.

In first half stoppage time Andrea Raggi had the ball in the net for Bologna but it was chalked off for a narrow offside decision.

If Juve had looked comfortable before the break, they were anything but after it with former striker Marco Di Vaio terrorising their back-line. Table

He escaped to bear down one-on-one against Gianluigi Buffon but put the ball wide and moments later got free again, rounded the Italy stopper only to see Giorgi Chiellini get back to clear his shot off the line.

Buffon then came to the rescue to keep out a Giacomo Tedesco shot at full stretch before Adailton thrashed the rebound over the bar.

But three minutes into stoppage time Tedesco sent a long, high cross into the box and Adailton arrived at the back post to stab a volley into the ground that bounced up and beyond Buffon’s despairing dive.

In Sicily Japan forward Takayuki Morimoto gave hosts Catania a first half lead and that looked to be enough for the win until De Rossi’s late leveller.

Brazilian centre-back Juan flicked-on a corner that went to birthday boy Francesco Totti who’s mishit finish bounced off De Rossi’s thighs and over the line.

In Napoli Hamsik headed home from close range four minutes into the second half before former Middlesbrough forward Massimo Maccarone equalised for Siena.

But Hamsik sealed the three points, blasting home the rebound after his penalty had been saved by Gianluca Curci.

In other games Serie A top scorer Antonio Di Natale continued his hot streak as he netted in Udinese’s 2-0 win over Genoa while Atalanta climbed off the bottom of the table with a 1-1 draw at Chievo.

Livorno, who lost 1-0 at fourth-placed Fiorentina on Saturday, are the new basement dwellers.

ROME (AFP)