Legendary former striker Paolo Rossi is sure Juventus are “motivated to win their fifth consecutive title”.
When Rossi was playing, the Bianconeri finished fifth in 1985, the year they finally won the European Cup.
With the current side having won just once in six Serie A games, and winning both their Champions League ties, are there any parallels?
“No, it was different in my day,” Rossi told reporters at the Football Heroes museum in Milan.
Legendary former striker Paolo Rossi is sure Juventus are “motivated to win their fifth consecutive title”.
When Rossi was playing, the Bianconeri finished fifth in 1985, the year they finally won the European Cup.
With the current side having won just once in six Serie A games, and winning both their Champions League ties, are there any parallels?
“No, it was different in my day,” Rossi told reporters at the Football Heroes museum in Milan.
“For us, we weren’t snubbing the League, but the European Cup was unconsciously our obsession, we just wanted that, we’d have done anything to win it.
“The current Juventus, however, seem to me to be pretty motivated to win their fifth consecutive title and do well in Europe.
“They have to find the balance which they don’t have yet, but it’ll come. We can’t put all the blame on [Coach Massimiliano] Allegri for only getting five points in Serie A so far.
“The Torinese side have considerably overhauled their squad, and people like [Andrea] Pirlo, [Carlos] Tevez and [Arturo] Vidal can’t just be replaced in the blink of an eye.
“You can’t compare the newcomers to that wonderful trio, they’re still lacking experience, but I’m convinced that sooner or later it’ll become automatic for them.
“It’s inevitable that Max Allegri continues to shuffle his pack, and doesn’t ever play the same guys, but over time he’ll find the right formula.
“Juve won’t give up, don’t worry.”
Rossi famously scored a hat-trick for Italy against Brazil in the 1982 World Cup, and was asked about Nikola Kalinic’s treble against Inter on Sunday.
“Do you know I see a lot of myself in this player? I mean, Kalinic is playing as a central striker, just like the Paolo Rossi at Lanerossi Vicenza, with midfielders who move well.
“The Croatian has good movement, he’s quick and he has an eye for goal. Maybe this description reminds you of someone who was playing a few years ago?
“If, on the banks of the Arno [Florence], they can get Giuseppe Rossi back, Fiorentina will have another string to their bow.
“This is already a formidable Fiorentina, but with Pepito up-front they could become really impressive.”
Finally, the World Cup-winner gave his opinion on the current Azzurri side.
“The way I see it, the national team will always qualify,” Rossi mused.
“For the European Championships in France, as well as the World Cup in Russia and Qatar. At the moment I see a so-so Italy.
“We haven’t moved on from the great champions – [Francesco] Totti, [Alessandro] Del Piero – but at the same time there aren’t enough possible Azzurri players playing in the League.
“When they play, they smash everything, just like [Simone] Zaza who has scored two goals when he got involved at Juve.
“You have to trust these lads.”