Marcello Lippi believes the current Juventus side is following the same path as his all-conquering team from the 90s.
Lippi won three Scudetti, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League in his first spell with the Bianconeri, and reached another three European finals, two in the Champions League.
The Coach then returned in 2001, winning another two Serie A titles, and reaching the final of Europe’s major club competition again.
Marcello Lippi believes the current Juventus side is following the same path as his all-conquering team from the 90s.
Lippi won three Scudetti, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League in his first spell with the Bianconeri, and reached another three European finals, two in the Champions League.
The Coach then returned in 2001, winning another two Serie A titles, and reaching the final of Europe’s major club competition again.
“You can say that this Juve is following the same path of growth mine did,” Lippi explained in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
“First success in Italy, then in Europe – maybe intercontinental too one day. You can only get there in one way: three or four European successes, like those against Borussia Dortmund and Real [Madrid].
“In Dortmund, Juventus took control of the pitch, showing awareness of their strengths. Then they scored more than one goal at home to Real.
“In Madrid they suffered a bit, but who doesn’t suffer there? And they could even have won.
“After three Scudetti [under Antonio Conte], [current Coach Massimiliano] Allegri was a real bonus. He hasn’t removed any conviction, but has grown Juve tactically, and they can now play two systems without problems.
“In Italy, their dominance is embarrassing. While the others are wondering who will be their next Coach, Juve have made two great signings [Sami] Khedira and [Paulo] Dybala, and they’re the ones who needed them least.”
The final will be played in Berlin’s Olympiastadion, where Lippi won the World Cup with the national team, and the legendary Coach revealed some advice for Max Allegri.
“I phoned him with a mutual friend. I told him, ‘take a day with friends and family and relax’. I think he did.
“This isn’t a World Cup. If you’re in the final after a year, then you’re stronger than at the beginning. There’s no need to act like Al Pacino in ‘Any Given Sunday’.
“In fact, in Berlin some of the Azzurri spent the night before at Kempinski with a cigarette. What can you say?
“One thing about Berlin which nobody knows, is that I came back a few years after the final.
“I was invited to a film festival, and one morning, all alone at 8am, I took a taxi to the stadium. I went onto the pitch, and spent 20 minutes just looking.”