Alessandro Del Piero was more impressed with Roma than Juventus” data-scaytid=”2″>Juventus in the Champions League, warning the Bianconeri risk “failure.”
Alessandro Del Piero was more impressed with Roma than Juventus in the Champions League, warning the Bianconeri risk “failure.”
The former Bianconeri hero is currently starring for Delhi Dynamos in the new Indian Super League and sat down with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I am proud of the role this new League has. In India they don’t have youth academies and the idea of a tournament similar to a World Cup, with a game almost every day for three months, really incentivises football starting from the foundations.
“It is also a way of giving hope via sport in a place where opportunities are often drowned in a sea of problems. That’s not bad, as objectives go.
“The local players can improve a great deal and I try to teach them something useful every day. The greatest satisfaction is seeing them grow, as I can read the concentration and gratitude in their eyes. It’s a great sensation.”
These comments sound like someone who is thinking about the next step of his career as a Coach.
“Up to a few years ago I would’ve said no. Now I understand how fascinating it can be, although it is not a priority. I am observing with curiosity the paths of Inzaghi, Gattuso, Cannavaro, Materazzi, Zambrotta and even Grosso with the youth players. I have to understand what role suits me best. There’s time for that.”
Del Piero is also keeping an eye on Juventus, Serie A and the Champions League.
“As a club Juve made the right moves, for example building their own stadium, but compared to the English, Spanish and German clubs how many years did that take?
“In Italy, Juve are fresh from a trio of Scudetti that means a lot, but they need one more step to be on a par with those five or six clubs who can win the Champions League. At times that step can take years.
“Of course, if Juve failed to get into the last 16 then it would be a failure for all of Italian football, but they have what it takes to turn the group around.”
Roma were thrashed 7-1 by Bayern Munich this week, but sit second in their group, ahead of Premier League champions Manchester City.
“Bayern were devastating and efficient, but in that game I saw a positive sign from the Giallorossi. They had a winning mentality during the darkest time. Roma re-emerged in the second half as if it was still 0-0, creating chances and fighting for every ball.
“The Coach was also ready to take responsibility for the defeat and the fans applauded the squad. I thought, yes, this is the right spirit to make the step up in quality.”