Learning Valuable Lessons

After nearly two decades' experience of European football, Gary Neville recognises the lessons being learned by United’s youngsters this season – and he tips them to benefit in the long-term…
I think the younger players in our squad will take a lot out of this season.The likes of Smalling, Jones, Rafael, Fabio, Cleverley and De Gea will learn some invaluable lessons. When I and the other young lads of the time started touring around Europe in our early days, we had it the same. In my first game, we were knocked out of Europe by Torpedo Moscow!

There’s a subtlety and an attention to detail you need in Europe. You’re talking about football where inches matter and being yards out of position matter, whereas the Premier League can be a little more forgiving. In Europe opponents are more ruthless, more clinical in front of goal and you can find that you have nobody to mark for large periods of the game because they try and play in-between you, so it’s great experience.

I remember it when we were young lads too; it’s just something you have to go through. We were taken to school for three years in Europe from 1996 through to 1999, particularly by Juventus at times, and these are the lessons that you can see being taught to some of our younger lads this year.

We’ve got a lot of youth in the squad – just look at the team that started against Ajax at Old Trafford – and this is a great learning curve for these ladsl. The manager has said this a number of times in the changing room down the years: whenever you think you’re doing ok in a European game, that’s the point to switch on, because you can find you’re doing well and suddenly you’ve gone from 1-0 up to 1-2 down in five minutes.

Even in my later years I was finding this out. I was playing in Munich in my mid-30s and we were coasting, and then I gave away a stupid handball on the edge of the area and they scored from the free-kick. Five minutes later they scored again and we lost a game we’d been comfortable in. Even in your mid-30s they still catch you out. You think of that Bayern Munich team we beat to win the Treble in 1999, it was one of the most experienced teams that has played in European competition, yet their world collapsed in three minutes.

It’s an underachievement when you get to three finals in four years, then don’t get past the group stage, but these are great experiences for the young lads. I wouldn’t be surprised if the manager picks a lot of them again against Bilbao, because they need the experience and also because the Premier League has to be the priority. The manager may think that we may as well go to school in Europe all year and let the lads learn on the job.

The only way you learn European football is by playing games and getting to the point where you start to absorb lessons. The manager knows he’s got talented young players who are going to be with the club for a number of years, and I think that this year has almost been a step back to go forwards in Europe. You get the fruits of your labour eventually and these lads have huge talent, but for now it’s all learning and getting experience.

@manutd.com

Interview:Heartbeat of Barcelona and Spain

Many have described Barcelona's 5-0 win over Real Madrid last November as the greatest performance ever. Even Wayne Rooney admits that he stood up in his living room and started applauding.

[Xavi's face lights up]. Yeah? Really? Rooney? That makes me proud. Rooney, wow! Rooney is extraordinary, he could play for Barcelona. And before people imagine headlines like "Xavi says Rooney to join Barcelona" – although, I'd love him to! – what I mean is that he's our kind of player. That game was wonderful, the best I've played. The feeling of superiority was incredible – and against Real Madrid! They didn't touch the ball. Madre mía, what a match! In the dressing room, we gave ourselves a standing ovation.
You mention Barcelona's dominance of possession. It's tempting to conclude that we've never seen a team with an identity – for better or worse – as clear as the current Barcelona and Spain teams. It's all about possession. And that's your identity – one that seems to have become dominant.
It's good that the reference point for world football right now is Barcelona, that it's Spain. Not because it's ours but because of what it is. Because it's an attacking football, it's not speculative, we don't wait. You pressure, you want possession, you want to attack. Some teams can't or don't pass the ball. What are you playing for? What's the point? That's not football. Combine, pass, play. That's football – for me, at least. For coaches, like, I don't know, [Javier] Clemente or [Fabio] Capello, there's another type of football. But it's good that Barcelona's style is now a model, not that.
But some claimed Spain were boring at the World Cup. You kept winning 1-0.
That's upside down. It's not that we were boring, it is the other team that was. What did Holland look for? Penalties. Or [Arjen] Robben on the break. Bam, bam, bam. Of course we were boring – the opposition made it that way. Paraguay? What did they do? Built a spectacularly good defensive system and waited for chances – from dead balls. Up it goes, rebound, loose ball. It's harder than people realise when you've got a guy behind you who's two metres tall and right on top of you.
So, what's the solution?
Think quickly, look for spaces. That's what I do: look for spaces. All day. I'm always looking. All day, all day. [Xavi starts gesturing as if he is looking around, swinging his head]. Here? No. There? No. People who haven't played don't always realise how hard that is. Space, space, space. It's like being on the PlayStation. I think shit, the defender's here, play it there. I see the space and pass. That's what I do.
That's at the heart of the Barcelona model and runs all the way through the club, doesn't it? When you beat Madrid, eight of the starting XI were youth-team products and all three finalists in this year's Ballon d'Or were too – Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta and you.
Some youth academies worry about winning, we worry about education. You see a kid who lifts his head up, who plays the pass first time, pum, and you think, 'Yep, he'll do.' Bring him in, coach him. Our model was imposed by [Johan] Cruyff; it's an Ajax model. It's all about rondos [piggy in the middle]. Rondo, rondo, rondo. Every. Single. Day. It's the best exercise there is. You learn responsibility and not to lose the ball. If you lose the ball, you go in the middle. Pum-pum-pum-pum, always one touch. If you go in the middle, it's humiliating, the rest applaud and laugh at you.
Your Barcelona team-mate Dani Alves said that you don't play to the run, you make the run by obliging team-mates to move into certain areas. "Xavi," he said, "plays in the future."
They make it easy. My football is passing but, wow, if I have Dani, Iniesta, Pedro, [David] Villa … there are so many options. Sometimes, I even think to myself: man, so-and-so is going to get annoyed because I've played three passes and haven't given him the ball yet. I'd better give the next one to Dani because he's gone up the wing three times. When Leo [Messi] doesn't get involved, it's like he gets annoyed … and the next pass is for him.
You're talking about style over success but not only can they go together, they have to go together, don't they? Arsenal play great football, Arsène Wenger is a hugely respected coach, but they've not won anything for years. Could that happen at Barcelona?
Almost impossible. If you go two years without winning, everything has to change. But you change names, not identity. The philosophy can't be lost. Our fans wouldn't understand a team that sat back and played on the break. Sadly, people only look at teams through success. Now, success has validated our approach. I'm happy because, from a selfish point of view, six years ago I was extinct; footballers like me were in danger of dying out. It was all: two metres tall, powerful, in the middle, knockdowns, second balls, rebounds … but now I see Arsenal and Villarreal and they play like us.
Do you see yourself as a defender of the faith? An ideologue?
It was that or die. I'm a romantic. I like the fact that talent, technical ability, is valued above physical condition now. I'm glad that's the priority; if it wasn't, there wouldn't be the same spectacle. Football is played to win but our satisfaction is double. Other teams win and they're happy, but it's not the same. The identity is lacking. The result is an impostor in football. You can do things really, really well – last year we were better than Inter Milan – but did not win. There's something greater than the result, more lasting. A legacy. Inter won the Champions League but no one talks about them. People discovered me since Euro 2008, but I've been playing the same way for years. It is true, though, that I have grown in confidence and tranquillity. And that comes with success.
Has English football suffered because it embraces a different footballing culture?
It has changed; the style's a bit more technical. But before it was direct, it was about the second ball, the typical No9 was a Crouch or a Heskey and there was no football. Carragher, boom, up top; Terry, boom, up top. I think it's changing: Barry, Lampard, Gerrard, Carrick … they are players who treat the ball well. You see them now and think, Christ, they are trying to play.
Is Paul Scholes the English Xavi?
[Xavi interrupts, almost bursting with enthusiasm] Paul Scholes! A role model. For me – and I really mean this – he's the best central midfielder I've seen in the last 15, 20 years. I've spoken to Xabi Alonso about him. He's spectacular, he has it all: the last pass, goals, he's strong, he doesn't lose the ball, vision. If he'd been Spanish he might have been rated more highly. Players love him.
England seems to mistrust technical players.
It's a pity. Talent has to be the priority. Technical ability. Always, always. Sure, you can win without it but it's talent that makes the difference. Look at the teams: Juventus, who makes the difference? Krasic. Del Piero. Liverpool? Gerrard, or Torres before. Talento. Talento. When you look at players and ask yourself who's the best: talento. Cesc, Nasri, Ryan Giggs – that guy is a joy, incredible. Looking back, I loved John Barnes and Chris Waddle was buenísimo. [Open-mouthed, eyes gleaming] Le Tissier! Although their style was different I liked Roy Keane and Paul Ince together, too. That United team was great – my English team. If I'd gone anywhere, it would have been there.
In England do we overrate physical players? You mention Carragher, Terry …
Whoa! Wait! Be careful. They're fundamental. We've got Puyol. Technically he might not be the best but it's incredible the way he defends. Carragher and Terry are necessary, brilliant, but they have to adapt to technical football [not the other way round]. For me, that comes naturally – or for Messi, Iniesta or Rooney. Others have to work at it. For them it's harder to lift their head up and play a pass – but they have to.
But when a player is offered to a club, the first question is: "how tall is he?"
Have you seen [the Villarreal winger] Santi Cazorla? You think I'm small, he's up to here on me [Xavi signals his chest]. And yet he's brilliant. Messi is the same and he's the best player in the world. Maybe it's the culture, I don't know, but in England you're warriors. You watch Liverpool and Carragher wins the ball and boots it into the stands and the fans applaud. There's a roar! They'd never applaud that here.
Next week you play Arsenal again in the Champions League last 16. Are they different? A kind of Barcelona-lite?
Arsenal are a great team. When I watch Arsenal, I see Barça. I see Cesc carry the game, Nasri, Arshavin. The difference between them and us is we have more players who think before they play, quicker. Education is the key. Players have had 10 or 12 years here. When you arrive at Barça the first thing they teach you is: think. Think, think, think. Quickly. [Xavi starts doing the actions, looking around himself.] Lift your head up, move, see, think. Look before you get the ball. If you're getting this pass, look to see if that guy is free. Pum. First time. Look at [Sergio] Busquets – the best midfielder there is playing one-touch. He doesn't need more. He controls, looks and passes in one touch. Some need two or three and, given how fast the game is, that's too slow. Alves, one touch. Iniesta, one touch. Messi, one touch. Piqué, one touch. Busi [Busquets], me … seven or eight players with one touch. Fast. In fact, [the youth coach] Charly [Rexach] always used to say: a mig toc. Half a touch.
Arsenal-Barcelona always provokes questions about Cesc Fábregas's future.
If I'd ever gone to another club, I'd have been thinking about Barcelona – the link is strong. The same is happening to him. But now there's a problem: now he's expensive. But I think that a footballer ends up playing where he wants. He has to end up here.
That's not what Arsenal fans want to hear and some have accused Barcelona players, you included, of stirring trouble. Last summer there were so many remarks supposedly coming out of Barcelona …
Really? I hardly spoke then. I imagine they wouldn't have liked that. [Xavi pauses, adding quietly, almost shamefacedly] You know, often footballers don't think. We're selfish, we don't realise. I also say it because I'm thinking of Cesc. He wants to come here. Barcelona has always been his dream. But of course he's Arsenal's captain, the standard bearer, a leader. This situation is a putada [bummer] for him. He's at a club that plays his style with Wenger who has treated him well, taught him, raised him. Cesc respects him. If he'd been at, say, Blackburn it might have been easier to leave. Look, the truth is: I want him to come here. Of course. Barcelona have a very clear style and not many footballers fit. It's not easy. But Cesc fits it perfectly.
Would he replace you, though?
I don't see new players as a threat; I don't say "this is my patch". I'm more: "bring them here, let them play". The more talent in the middle, the better. Four or five years ago [people said] me and Iniesta couldn't play together. We can't play together? Look how that one turned out.
Last year, you beat Arsenal comfortably …
Yes, but this year they're much better. I think it's a disadvantage for us that we played last year. They had [too] much respect for us. It was as if they let us have the ball; we always had it, home and away. The game in London could have been a 4-0 we dominated so much – but it finished 2-2. This year will be different.
What was your reaction to the draw?
I was happy. I like the fact that we'll see a great game. Arsenal aren't the kind of team that come to try to putear you [piss you off, break up the game, destroy the match]. If it was Chelsea, you might think Madre mía, they're going to leave the initiative to you, wait deep, close up, play on the break with Drogba and Malouda. But, no, I think Arsenal will want the ball. There will be more of a game. As a fan I'd definitely pay for a ticket to see this game. Manchester United or Chelsea would play in a more speculative way. They would leave us the ball. Arsenal won't.
Does English football attract you? Spanish players always return from there raving about it.
It's incredible. Una pasada. Now that is football. England really is the birthplace, the heart and soul of football. If Barcelona had Liverpool's fans, or Arsenal's, or United's, we'd have won 20 Champions Leagues, hahaha! OK, so that's an exaggeration but I've never seen anything like it. We won 3-1 at Liverpool once and we were both applauded off the pitch. In England, footballers are respected more, the game is more noble, there's less cheating. Every Spaniard who goes loves it – and comes back a better player. If I had ever left it would have been to England.
The final is at Wembley, which makes it even more special for Barcelona, doesn't it? Last year it was special because it was at the Bernabéu but Wembley is the scene of the Dream Team's one European Cup. And this feels like a year in which you are being constantly compared to them …
In 1992, I was 12 and my brothers went but my parents wouldn't let me. I was in tears but it made no difference. I'd love to play at Wembley. It's special for Barça – and for everyone in football. Last year was more morbosa [about the rivalry with Real Madrid, almost a little dirty, titillating]. This year is more nostalgic, more classic. And I'm more of a nostalgic. Me? I'm a romantic.
@Guardian
Photo : Solarpix.com

“Now we have to stand up and be counted”

“It’s still a bitter defeat, because we played well, taking the lead and controlling the game. We’ve paid for an error and after their equalizer we couldn’t rectify the situation.” Alessandro Del Piero analyses the game against Udinese, looking to focus the attention on the upcoming fixtures: “We have to accept the critics and think about the next match. As I’ve said against Udinese we didn’t play badly and for several minutes we could run, play together and gave little away against the most in form team of the championship. This should be a starting point from this evening forward.” He commented on the supporters disappointment: “We are disappointed as well, because we have great ambitions and we would like to honour the name of Juventus. The difficulties that we’re facing increase our bitterness. Now we must stay together, stand up and be counted.”
@Juventus.com

Juve Scored: Juve 1 Udinese 0

Impressed by Marchisio magic :)

Meeting Between Platini And The Serie A Executives

The meeting arranged by Figc between Serie A teams’ executives and the Uefa President Michel Platini took place yesterday afternoon at the Hotel Parco dei Principi in Rome. They addressed several matters: from the financial fair play to the initiatives against violence, racism and corruption, from the future of European competitions to the Uefa strategies in view of the next four years presidency (2011 - 2015) for which Platini is the only candidate. Juventus President Andrea Agnelli and MD-sports GM Giuseppe Marotta attended the meeting.

After the conference, the latter spoke to media about Juventus condition and targets: «The title? Football is so changeable, but our main object is to qualify for the next Champions League, as already stated at the beginning of this season. Actually, it depends on our opponents’ progress, not only on our squad. The championship is still quite balanced. The difference consists in crucial scorers and, unfortunately, we suffered from many injuries, like that occurred to Fabio Quagliarella. Intervening in the transfer market? We won’t just go through the motions of doing operations, even because now there are no important names suitable for Juventus».
Asked about Del Piero’s contract renewal, Marotta responded that: «Alessandro is a real legend in Juventus, a serious professional who earned the club’s and supporters’ respect. We will deal with this topic as soon as possible».
Finally, about Calciopoli, he said that: «Juventus rely on sports justice. We hope that a deep and accurate verification of the events could be carried out, because there is still a vague situation. We also hope that the solution will be achieved quite quickly».

@Juventus.com

Tenacious Juve

Analyzing the match, we deserved the victory. We believed in it till the very end, spending all our energy reserves even in the final assault. The strength of this team is the will to do well and this can also be seen from the results». Gigi Del Neri is enjoying the victory against Lazio, the second place in the table, but most of all the tenacity of Juventus which is capable of obtaining three well deserved points in the dying seconds: «We are happy with the victory but most of all with how it came to be. We fielded all our strength and courage. How we celebrated in the dressing rooms? With moderation and great respect for Lazio which is an excellent team». It is a victory obtained with character but also an important contribution by the players who came on during the match. Pepe and Del Piero created more then one problem for Muslera and Sissoko launched Krasic for the match winner: «All the Juve players are important and are all part of the project. If we go with this spirit we will go far».

Moggi :"Inter Reduced To Smoking Rubble"

Inter have been reduced to smoking rubble, torched by Rafael Benitez who has destroyed an empire built by Jose Mourinho, and not even a new wave of Calciopoli will be enough to douse the flames, claims Luciano Moggi.

"Inter are finished. Their credit, obtained from Calciopoli has ran out," Moggi told Gold TV.
"And for sure [Massimo] Moratti caused it by replacing Mourinho with Benitez - the complete opposite.
"The team has turned from being a warship to a weak mob.
"To win again Moratti will probably need a new Calciopoli..."
And with Inter charred, if not completely burnt, Juventus, Milan and Roma will feed off the scraps.
"In Italy the team who has Zlatan Ibrahimovic always wins," Moggi added.
"I wonder if [Arrigo] Sacchi still thinks Milan made an error by signing him.
"As for Roma, they are out of the crisis and they have reaquired self-esteem. Now they can return to being great again.
"Juventus? They deserved to beat Genoa and are doing well, but thinking about the Scudetto would be an illusion for the fans."



 
@goal.com

Agnelli's letter to Juve fans

This first part of the season has often been accompanied by controversy, opinions and in some cases proper attacks on Juventus and its history. In a few hours time the curtain will rise on a match which has always played an important part in the history of football. It is a history for us Juventini made of passion and very often victories which were always achieved with merit on the field. 

The chit chat of recent months contributed to the raising of voices, often mixing the roles. It is time to think of the present. 

It is a time in which the shareholders and the management are on the one side busy safeguarding and defending the club’s colours everywhere, with the right instruments and in the most correct and transparent way, and on the other hand are concentrating everyday in order to put the players in a condition to offer a performance of a level which suits Juventus. 

It is a time in which the supporters, with a sense of responsibility higher than that of certain managers, are supporting their team even in difficult moments, without falling to useless exaggerations and violence that would stain the joint effort of all those who have Juventus at heart: footballers, coaches, directors, employees and millions of supporters. 

It is a time which has lasted 113 years and which will continue even after these 90 minutes during which we will have to be loyal supporters in order to get back to our work: Juventus will continue to do so in all the competent places so as to assure that the reasons of everyone are heard and evaluated with dignity.

Forza Juve 
Andrea Agnelli

Agnelli : All expected

It was the first management meeting which was held at the construction site of the new stadium, in the offices of the works directors and was the opportunity to show the board members the state of the works. 

Andrea Agnelli, at the end of the management meeting met the journalists: «Here you are seeing the Juve of the future – said the President - . Today we visited the construction site together with the board members. We can say that this is the first day in the life of the new stadium, an avant-garde stadium, on the level of the main European teams, open 7 days a week. In Italy we are the first club to reach such an objective». 

The President then spoke of football: «The present situation is how I expected it to be. We knew some time would be necessary, a few months are needed for the sports project to take off. The squad is not under discussion. We based ourselves on young players and therefore it is normal that they have less experience but we must give them time». 

Agnelli has no doubts with regards to what the team needs to find: «The team is conscious of the quality  and must simply find consistency. There is harmony. It can be seen that a group is being created. This can be understood from many things, including the fact that even yesterday the team fought till the very end and then went towards the stands to receive the applause of the supporters: it is a sign that they want to return to being Juve». The final comment is dedicated to the supporters:  «They understood what has been done in recent months, they understand that the lads are living through a transformation and must amalgamate besides seeing that they are running on the field».

Pinzolo Feast For Juve

It was a great feast, with all in Pinzolo in Piazza San Giacomo to express their love for Juventus. The presentation of the team to the supporters was a great success. The event, transmitted live on Juventus Channel reached its climax at 21:45hrs, when the bianconeri took the stage. As from 19:00hrs the square was animated with activities and games that involved all the children of the Soccer School and the Val Rendena football nurseries. At 21:00hrs, Dj Nanà and Valerio Ciardello presented Paolo Belli, an avid Juve supporter, who with his band sang the Juventus official song and over half an hour of other numbers with a strong Juventus connection. 

The concert came to an end with the arrival of the team and the public overjoyed. The first to take the stage was the General Director for Sport Affairs Giuseppe Marotta who was welcomed with a great roar of enthusiasm: «I thank Pinzolo for the magnificent hospitality – said Marotta. I promise the supporters the maximum commitment in order for Juve to return to being the great team that has always left its mark in the world. The team is made up of new signings and champions who wrote the history of this club and this, together with the new coach is the guarantee of being able to seek important results».

After the kit managers and the technical staff, it was the turn of coach Del Neri: «I am happy to see such enthusiasm and it is right that we give the maximum everyday. We want to return to being protagonists. I believe that union between the team and the supporters is fundamental and together we can do well». 

Next on stage were the players. First the goalkeepers with Marco Storari who said he is : «happy with the splendid welcome received». It was Marco Motta who spoke in then name of the supporters and said he would be asking for jersey number 2: «It is an important jersey and I hope I can show that I am worthy of it on the field». Jorge Martinez, the spokesman of the midfielders seemed very emotional: «There are so many of you – he told those present. I am not used to this and I promise I will always give the maximum in every match». 

Finally, to speak in the name of the attackers, it could not have been but captain Del Piero, who literally threw the public into delirium: «Thank you all for being here and for the affection you are showing us everyday. We need this enthusiasm and this energy and we hope to be able to pay you back as soon as possible during this season».

With the presentation having come to an end, and after the authorities represented by the Province Councillor for Tourism and agriculture Tiziano Mellarini, Pinzolo mayor William Bonomi and Toursim Industry President of Pinzolo, Madonna di Campiglio and Val Rendena Marco Maseè, the children who won the tournaments held in the afternoon were called on stage. They received their prizes from Alessandro Del Piero thus living an unforgettable moment, just like all the supporters present in the square. The final message came from Marotta: «I end this evening by sending you the message given recently by our president Andrea Agnelli: through humility and daily work every result can be achieved».