Gigi Buffon feels Juventus have a different “belief” in the Champions League, but not “excessive self-confidence” ahead of the Sevilla opener.
The Champions League clash kicks off tomorrow at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT) in Turin.
“The role of the captain ahead of a competition like this is the same as it always is for any player, because good or bad, this team is put together from players with a certain international experience. I don’t need to underline the importance of games or teach how to approach them.
Gigi Buffon feels Juventus have a different “belief” in the Champions League, but not “excessive self-confidence” ahead of the Sevilla opener.
The Champions League clash kicks off tomorrow at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT) in Turin.
“The role of the captain ahead of a competition like this is the same as it always is for any player, because good or bad, this team is put together from players with a certain international experience. I don’t need to underline the importance of games or teach how to approach them.
“Juve are certainly overflowing with experience in this squad, so my role will just be to save chances, hopefully as well as possible!”
Buffon has never won the Champions League, but is that dream closer this year than at any other time?
“I want to underline that the dream is not mine, it is of Juve and all the players, the club and the Juve World. At the end of the day, Juve haven’t won this trophy since I started my career. We’ve both been chasing it this whole time and want to crown that dream together!
“I am so fond of Juventus that if someone else is the first to lift the trophy, I will be just as happy.
“Am I fed up of losing in the Champions League? No. If it went that way, we and I deserved it. I am fed up of being so modest! I need to do more, as we all do, because what I’ve done thus far clearly wasn’t enough. As I think any individual athlete can improve to his final day, we can improve as a team and individually.
“Compared to other years, we are facing it with a different self-belief thanks to the Final two years ago and the Last 16 which might not seem like much, but the fact we forced Bayern Munich to extra time shows a great level of competitiveness.
“I feel we have improved further this summer, but it would be a bit arrogant to say Juve are the favourites for the Champions League.
“When starting a competition like this, you know there are at least three or four teams out there just as strong as you. In these situations, luck and certain incidents going your way are decisive.
“We have enthusiasm and are very eager, but we do not start out considering ourselves favourites. We consider ourselves a very good team that has been on a journey and has improved even more on the transfer market.
“When football people mention Juve as among the possible contenders for the Champions League, it means something. In my view it is the result of our last two years in Europe plus the transfer strategy of this year.
“Clearly Juve cannot be ignored by those who understand football. We know that. However, with the utmost honest we know that to repeat a strong run we need our feet firmly on the ground and great humility, because few teams can approach this competition with excessive confidence. The level is so high that a smack is just around the corner.
“Experience means you have already been through the charges of adrenaline, emotion and anxiety, so you know what you’re going into. Sometimes a young player can be an added value later on when he realises what it means and can burst through all that with a clear head to try that something special.”