Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon says Napoli can win the Scudetto, but Inter “could have crushed us” earlier in the season.
The Bianconeri are sitting second in Serie A, two points behind the Partenopei, despite a difficult start to the season which saw them take just 12 points from 10 games.
“The defeat at Sassuolo?” Buffon considered, speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport about the last League game the Old Lady failed to win, after which he criticised the team.
Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon says Napoli can win the Scudetto, but Inter “could have crushed us” earlier in the season.
The Bianconeri are sitting second in Serie A, two points behind the Partenopei, despite a difficult start to the season which saw them take just 12 points from 10 games.
“The defeat at Sassuolo?” Buffon considered, speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport about the last League game the Old Lady failed to win, after which he criticised the team.
“I think it was our last chance to get back on track. We risked getting sucked into oblivion for good. I don’t have many years ahead of me, so I don’t want to waste time and go through dark periods, without targets.
“It was an important response for everyone in the dressing room, those who had just arrived in Vinovo and those who had been here for many years.
“I think the Coach [Massimiliano Allegri] played a decisive role too, he knew which buttons to push to get the best out of us.
“I like maths. I love numbers, and that night [after Sassuolo] I did the maths and it gave me hope. I only talked to the directors, just so that the dressing room didn’t risk not perceiving the seriousness of the situation.
“'To win the Scudetto or get into the Champions League', I said, 'we need 25 wins. We have three, so we have to win 22 times in 28 games'.
“It seemed feasible, and now we’re already there at the front fighting for the Scudetto.
“Our most risky moment? I think it was the 0-0 in Milan, wrongly interpreted as a good result for Inter. In fact, if we’d lost that day it would have been a tombstone from a psychological point of view.
“The Nerazzurri could have crushed us, but they didn’t. It was a good Juventus, and I realised with the right attitude and everything in place we’d be a match for anyone.
“People say we’re favourites? They said that when we were further away in the table, and I smiled. It’s nice and rewarding to know how much fear and respect we instil.
“I think at some points in the season everything was in the hands of rivals though, nobody had the strength to immediately put us out of contention, no-one was able to pull away like Juve in recent years.
“I think if Juventus win the Scudetto, a lot of people will be kicking themselves. That said, there’s a long way to go and the games are open.
“Are Napoli or Inter our main rivals? They’re both on the same level, even more so in such a balanced League, with the lead in the League changing almost every Sunday.
“Inter aren’t in Europe, which helps a lot. Napoli are a well-oiled machine, they have one of the best attacks in Europe, and thanks to the excellent [Coach Maurizio] Sarri they now have great certainty in defence.
“Napoli are worthy of the Scudetto.”
The Bianconeri are also in the Last 16 of the Champions League, but have been handed a tough draw in the shape of Bayern Munich.
“It’s a game in which we don’t have much chance, that’s the truth. We’ll need anger, ruthlessness, great will and a bit of luck to upset the odds.”
One of the key men in Juve’s season so far has been Paulo Dybala, a summer arrival from Palermo, and Buffon discussed the young forward.
“My dad is obsessed with Dybala!” the goalkeeper laughed.
“He was happier than me after the deal with Palermo. I think Paulo has it all to be a champion: mentality, humility, attention to detail, character, hunger and technique.
“He has what it takes to be among the best in world football.”