Season 1999/2000

Conclusions	Players	Matches	Goals
Summary sponsors	Squad Transfers Best Discoveries Disillusions	Best Worst Championship UEFA Cup	Important Catastrophic

The Blue Moon and the Sixpence

This season began more earlier than usually for "Juventus" - Old Signora started in INTERTOTO Cup. There bianco-neri had no problems. The only bar unexpectedly appeared in a face of unknown romanian club "Chahlow" (I beg you pardon, if there are mistakes in the word), which was passed through by Juve only thanks to the ball which had been scored in rival's field. Why, for fair we should admit that in the second match in Italy bianco-neri showed not great desire to go forward because the score they had was enough for them and romanians a few times crossed the centre of the field. So Juve, passed to UEFA Cup already in summer, but nothing could be said about strength of the new team because it played only with weak foes. As to me, I hardly believed that "Juventus" after former season's fall would be able to fight for scudetto, but Old Signora was strong enough to get UEFA or Italian Cup. Somehow or other, when serious games started in autumn all questions would be answered.

My fears were approved at the beginning of championship. At once in the first lap at home against "Reggina" Juve lost two points, and the first defeat he suffered already in fourth lap from... "Lecce". With such game it was unthinkablle to hope for success in the games against grand teams. But two weeks later Old Signora surprised me, having defeated "Roma" in "Stadio Olympico", which in summer had been considered as real competitor for scudetto as Fabio Capello had come to rule it. Exactly in the moment, when I heard about this victory, I understood that Juve was able to fight for championship. This persuasion strenghted more after in the 10th lap in "Delle Alpi" the champion - "Milan" - was defeated, and in the 11th lap Juve got a draw with vice-champion "Lazio" in Rome. In the 13th lap another competitor for scudetto - Lippi's "Inter" - went away from Turin with nothing. Newspapers appeared under headlines of the kind "Lippi should blush". The thing is that rumours were afloat that as Lippi was giving his position in "Juventus" after retirement to Ancelotti, he said for good-bye:"Do not mind, Carlo, but I'll beat you in the future for sure, because I know everything about this team." But now it was a different team... And now it climbed pure first place, having chased "Lazio". For pity, soon a ridiculous draw with "Parma" in "Ennio Tardini" moved Juve into the second position, where bianco-neri finished the first circle. Therefore, it was clear that all struggle for scudetto was ahead, and there were only to competitors for it...

By that time the things were good in UEFA Cup. In 1/64 round cyprian "Omonia" was defeated twice with hockey score, and in 1/32 Juve had no problems with bulgarian "Levski". In spite of the fact that in the first match in Bulgaria already on the middle of the first half italians remained without Bacchini, who had got two yellow cards, they scored three balls, and then played a draw at home. In 1/16 "Olympiakos" wanted revange for previous season, but greeks also had not any chances - without breaking a tradition, in Athens Juve presented them three balls. Alsough, at home allowed them to get a victory, which gave greeks nothing except moral satisfaction, of course. For pity, such relaxation for second matches of UEFA Cup and obvious defiance to rivals played a nasty trick with "Juventus". Already in spring, in 1/8 final, after frugal win 1:0 in "Delle Alpi" under "Celta", in Vigo Juve was just torn into pieces 0:4. It was first strategic mistake of Ancelotti, who apparently considered "Celta", like former competitors in UEFA Cup, to be the team for easy beating. And it's with knowing the fact that "Celta Vigo" in this tournament previously just had flouted at "Benfica" of dear friend of all Juve's supporters Youp Heinkes - 8:0! Somehow or other, a red light was lit up for "Juventus" in european way for cups, the first possible trophey was lost...

The second circle of the championship bianco-neri started with their best, and quite soon again outstripped "Lazio" in tournament race, and after perfect match with "Roma" they started to say that the champion of Italy already had been determined. More active talks on this topic appeared after the 26th lap had been played, when for 8 games before the end of championship "Juventus" had 9 points of advantage under "Lazio". Even shameful defeat in UEFA Cup did not give any incredulity into handout about Old Signora's triumph, and even was considered as additional advantage because Juve had to fight only in one front. By that time Ancelotti had already lost also Italian cup, and the target was obvious - all mitakes would be forgotten and excused in case of scudetto winning, and only one step remained for that... Very hard step to do, because the most difficult part of the circle was waiting ahead - Juve had to play almost against all best teams of Serie A - "Milan", "Lazio", "Bologna", "Inter" and "Fiorentina"! But the shedule of "Lazio" was only a little bit easylier, and specialists preferred to see "Juventus" as the champion. So, the final battles started...

Started in Milan. And the match was unexpectedly lost. In debut Inzaghi, having sneaked the ball, when Maldini awry had passed it back to Abbiatti, missed to shoot the empty goal. Retribution followed almost immediately - after a cross from a free kick from the right wing of Milan's attack the God of ukrainian sport journalists Shevchenko overjumped Montero and sent the ball into the net. In the second half Andrey scored from penalty kick, which was adopted for Birindelli's foul agains him. The distance between "Juventus" and "Lazio" closed for 6 points... Had a by-plot rebirthed? Yes, after in the next lap "Lazio" defeated Juve in "Delle Alpi". The last and the main trophey was slipping from Ancelotti's arms, who failed to prepare the team for two principal duels. And the enemy armada was seen on horizon, which obviously was not going to present the points - the formidable armoured cruisers from Milan, Florence and Parma with support of cruiser "Bologna" and vedette boats from Verona and Peruggia trained their guns down injured but still afloat bianco-neri carrier...

And Juve showed that was worth of something, having defeated the biggest part of armada. At first "Bologna" was sent to the bottom, it was fighting frantically and was drown only on the 89th minute by smart shoot of Kovacevic. Then Darko demonstrated his class on "Inter", whose armor did not bear two shoots of serbian body-snatcher. "Fiorentina" went to the bottom after correct DelPiero's kick from penalty. Then unexpectedly "Lazio" stumbled, and for 3 laps before the end Juve was leading 5 points! The defeats from "Milan" and "Lazio" meant nothing now - it was necessary to get only 5 points from possible 9 to win! To win once by fair means or foul, and twice to spend all the time in own penalty ground to obtain zero draws - it was not unresolving task for the team which had missed only 17 balls for 31 games of championship! But... I think that exactly in the match of the 32th lap in Verona scudetto was lost. Vedette boat "Hellas" knocked down bianco-neri carrier 2:0. How? It is the question not for me. After that knock the team did not rally. In the next lap only with a cost of great damages it sent "Parma" to meet Neptun, and because of that holes in the hull "Peruggia" had not to do it's best. The rain did everything - "Juventus", smothered with water torrents, followed the doom of Atlantis. A weird made that Juve appeared not able to defeat the weakest rivals... And "Lazio" triumphed in dramatic battle, where the winner takes no medals or cups, but just the right to bear on it's shirt a tricolor piece of tissue - scudetto...

Players

Best

1. DelPiero.
After the hard injure Alessandro did not show his usual play at once, having left the priority to be the main striker to Inzaghi and Kovacevic. But at the end of the season he was a true leader! It seems that presisely thanks to his work Juve has been leading till the last lap: let's remember the winning goals to "Parma" and "Fiorentina", and how can we forget his play on the position of disqualified Zidane in the match against "Internazionale"? For pity, as it's said, the single man is not a warriror on the battlefield...

Discoveries

1. Gianluka Zambrotta.
When Bari's midfield appeared in "Juventus", he already had been a player of national team. Gianluka had to replace DiLivio, who had gone to "Fiorentina", and did his best. Frankly speaking, I did not expect such success from southern player - even the leader of "Bari" can't be sure to appear in the main squad of "Juventus"... I am pleased that I was wrong.

2. Alessio Tacchinardi.
He just perfectly replaced Deschamps! Tacchinardi was considered as "young and perspective" for a long time, but time was running and he appeared on the field only to change somebody, playing as in the midfield so in the defence. Lippi even was condamned for inhibiting Alessio's talent but Marcello wisely used Taccinardi's universality, because in that time there was no place for Tacchinardi in the first squad. With Deschamps leaving the place appeared and Alessio took it. Ancelotti for emergency in exchange for French national team's captain also had bought Oliseh, but as it became clear intime, in vain. Even without nigerian player Ancelotti had to solve the hard task - on the two places of right and central midfields he had three talented players, which were in the perfect form - Conte, Zambrotta and Tacchinardi. There was no place for Oliseh.

3. Darko Kovacevic.
Attempts to get this forward was made by Old Signora already in the middle of previous season, but for some reasons Darko appeared in Turin only in summer. Very sorry! In this season Darko demonstrated that he was really good forward and without any doubts might had been very useful for Juve in 1999, in difference with Esnaider or Henry. Kovacevic had to play with Inzaghi in the attack untill DelPiero would cure his injure but Alessandro became able to play faster than it was expected and serbian player was sent to the bench. Therefore, in championship he constantly used to appear on shifts and in Italian and UEFA Cups was the main striker of the team. Even at the unlucky finish of the season he was not the one to blame as he scored very important goals in Bologna and Milan.

Disillusions

1. The team and Ancelotti.
For eight laps before the end of the championship "Juventus" had an advantage under "Lazio" of 9 points, and eventually get nothing. Frankly speaking, I did not expect the final of that kind. To loose such advantage and to loose scudetto in the last lap - what else can be called as disillusion and disappointment? And noone can be blamed personally! All the team suddenly faded... And main coach appeared unable to do something.

2. Sunday Oliseh.
Good player, which could play in the center of midfield and in any position in defence, appeared redundant in Juve. The perfect trio Montero-Ferrara-Juliano played in defence, the place of left central midfield was captured long ago by Davids, and in the right wing Conte, Tacchinardi and Zambrotta were fighting for two available positions, and Oliseh hardly could only dream for the first squad. At the beginning of the season, in INTERTOTO Cup, Sunday was in squad, but with coming of really important matches Ancelotti preferred to rely upon other players. Oliseh by himself in the future as the reason of his mishap will claim Cup of Africa, where he went to defend national colors and from where he returned as a bench-warmer. May be, Ancelotti made a mistake, having refused of using this player, because players' physical languor was called later as one of the reasons of the crash at the end of the season - Juve, in difference of "Lazio", almost always played with constant squad. And Oliseh was able to play in various positions and thus to allow different main players to rest.

Matches

Best

1. Juventus FC - Roma AS 2:1 (Davids, Inzaghi). 23th lap of Serie A.
The best match of the season, accepting the fact that almost during the whole second half Old Signora played with 10 players. In spite of this, precisely in the second half Inzaghi finished a counter-attack which brought the victory to Juve. Juventus rightly won. As the champion, they concluded beforehand.

2. FC Internazionale - Juventus FC 1:2 (Kovacevic-2). 30th lap of Serie A.
After the defeat from "Lazio" at home, Juve had to go to Milan to play against "Inter" of Marcello Lippi. To the end of championship nerro-azouri got a good form, having collected two points in Rome from "Lazio". And in addition to all problems, Zinnedine Zidane missed the match because of disqualification. Journalists and fans were breaking their heads with thought who would replace french playmaker. Ancelotti made an obvious thing for that moment - he sent DelPiero to Zidane's place, and Kovacevic got Sandro's position in attack. From one side this step was unexpected, because Juve played on the rival's field and to appear almost with three forwards was quite dangerous. But from other side this step was blastly wise - "Juventus" would be satisfied only with the victory. The game showed that Ancelotti was quite right. Both of the goals were scored in the second half by Kovacevic, who at once became a fetish to the fans. At first he used an entry one-to-one after the perfect Inzaghi's assist, when Pippo was being on the line of penalty ground, with his back to the goal and to the only defender who guarded him, did not show greediness and passed the ball to serbian forward. Then Darko after the exact cross from the left wing from Pessotto overjumped Peruzzi (!), who left the goal to catch the ball, and from about 11 meters sent the ball to the empty goal. At the end of the game Seedorf with the kick from a long distance scored once, but then Juve's defence did not give any chances to the foe.
May be, exactly in this match Ancelotti had found but had not noticed a recipe of the game which could bring a success not only in the game but in the whole tournament. The recipe was Kovacevic in attack. Because as one of the causes of the game's decrease at the end of the season they whispered a conflict between Inzaghi and DelPiero, and it's quite resembles to the truth, because exactly crisis in attack hampered "Juventus" to get a great number of points in the last laps, and could steal even more if not a hardly scored DelPiero's goals to "Parma" and "Fiorentina" and Kovacevic's to "Bologna". Perhaps, Ancelotti was lack of courage to sacrifice with one of the idols - DelPiero or Inzaghi, alsough he was conscious that changes had to be done.

3. Juventus FC - AC Milan 3:1. (Conte, Kovacevic, Inzaghi). 10th lap of Serie A.
In the 10th lap Juve demonstrated that was able to fight for scudetto, having defeated the champion. To tell the truth, that match started not exactly well - at first rosso-neri scored after Zidane's own goal. But Conte almost at once recreated the balance, and then Kovacevic and Inzaghi brought the victory to Old Signora.

Worst

1. RC Celta de Vigo - Juventus FC 4:0. Second match of 1/8 final UEFA Cup.
The most shameful defeat in the season. In first match Old Signora won thanks to the only goal of Kovacevic, and that goal was annihilated already at the beginning of the match in Vigo. Bianco-neri obviously could not find their play, which is witnessed with three goals more and two red cards, one of which was showed to the captain - Conte. And it was the defence, which for 34 matches in Serie A missed only 20 goals, or 0.6 for the match!

2. FC Hellas Verona - Juventus FC 2:0 32th lap of Serie A.
Before this lap, before 3 matches till the end of championship, the advantage of "Juventus" under "Lazio" consisted of 5 points. It is obvious that for scudetto getting Old Signora could be satisfied with 5 more - that is one victory and two draws. Did Ancelottii has any problems with mathematics? "Hellas Verona" was finishing that championsip very vividly and strongly, was being demonstrated bright attacking football, and it was wisely for the club from Turin to play in Verona with an eye to draw, but, apparently, it was under the dignity of the grand. Very sorry... Sometimes it is useful to abandon the principles to obtain a result.

Serie A Matches

Eight best teams of Serie A

Scorers

Intertoto Cup Matches

Quarterfinal

Chahlow - Juventus FC 1:1. (?).
Juventus FC - Chahlow 0:0

Semifinal

Rostselmash - Juventus FC 0:4 (Inzaghi(2), Zambrotta, Kovacevic).
Juventus FC - Rostselmash 5:1 (Inzaghi(3), Tacchinardi, DelPiero).

Final

Juventus FC - Rennes 2:0 (Inzaghi(2)).
Rennes - Juventus FC 2:2 (Conte, Zambrotta).

UEFA Cup Matches

1/64 final

Omonia - Juventus FC 2:4 (?).
Juventus FC - Omonia 5:0 (Kovacevic(3), Tacchinardi, Conte).

1/32 final

Levski - Juventus FC 1:3 (Oliseh, Kovacevic(2)).
Juventus FC - Levski 1:1 (Kovacevic).

1/16 final

Olympiakos - Juventus FC 1:3 (Tudor, Kovacevic, Inzaghi).
Juventus FC - Olympiakos 1:2 (Kovacevic).

1/8 final

Juventus FC - RC Celta de Vigo 1:0 (Kovacevic).
RC Celta de Vigo - Juventus FC 4:0 .

Goals

Most Important

Are absent. Wrom where could they appear? All that was possible was lost, was lost at the plain place. I could not even find a single slipping into the next round of some cup thanks to some fool but important goal... Of course, we could make an accent on the DelPiero's in Berlusconi Cup, but it would be seen as attempt to make the best of a bad bargian. But catastrophic goals we have enough to last us a lifetime.

Catastrophic

1. AC Peruggia - Juventus FC 1:0. Unknown antihero. 34th lap of serie A.
This goal presented scudetto to "SS Lazio". If not this goal it would be final match for scudetto with roman team, which, I feel, would not help Juve. Yes, formally exactly the goal missed in Peruggia stole the gold of championship from "Juventus", but it's possible to find out more missed goals, with absence of which scudetto would be in Turin in 2000.

2. Juventus FC - SS Lazio 0:1. Simeone. 28th lap of Serie A.
First of all, of course, it is the goal scored by Simeone in "DelleAlpi". If "Lazio" had not won then, the difference between two teams would be six points for six laps. But... After Veron's cross from free kick Simeone from 10 meters shooted the right from van der Saar corner of the goal... Romans got three points and important psychologic advantage.

3. Parma AFC - Juventus FC 1:1. Crespo. 16th lap of Serie A.
But even the defeat from "Lazio" would have meant nothing, if Juve had won the matches which he had to win. The bright example is the match against "Parma" in "Ennio Tardini". Bianco-neri had been holding the advantage for all the game, and when had scored, just were skulking, playing with the ball at the middle of the field and not allowing to rival even to catch it. For some purpose they were not going to score more, but just were waiting for the final whistle, and they were punished for that already in additional time - Crespo, before he scored, had hauled the ball almost from the central line, and nobody had stopped him! The three points were on the toss, the last seconds of the match were ceasing - in such situation they could just take argentine forward with hands and throw him on tribunes. Somebody would be disqualified, but tell me, what the use of the numeral advantage before the munute till the final whistle and of the penalty kick from the centre of the field? Quite right, there is no use of them! And I'm sure that every member of the team would do this if he knew that precisely of those honestly desreved and ridiculously lost points Juventus would short to get scudetto...

4. SS Lazio - Juventus FC 2:1. Simeone. The second semifinal of Italian Cup.
Once more defeat from "Lazio", once more goal from Simeone... But now in the Cup of Italy. In the first match Juve was leading three balls, but eased up and was graced for that with the two ones. And then it was a seesaw in the Rome, on which eventually "Lazio" remained thanks to the two goals it had scored in Turin. Actually it was the match for the cup as in the final halting "Inter" was awaiting.

Squad

Numbers of players of the main squad are colored with blue, of the players frequently represented in main squad - with green, rare representsd - with white.

Squad of "Juventus" in season 1999/2000 (photo was made before the match of INTERTOTO Cup with russian "Rosselmash") From left to right: Upper row: Juliano, van der Saar, Kovacevic, Ferrara, Inzaghi, Montero Lower row: Conte, Zambrotta, Bacchini, Davids, Oliseh

Transfers

sponsors

Technical	Official in Serie A	Official in Champions League

Conclusions

Mark: 3 (from 12)
Realisation of opportunities: 25%.

It seems that this season was more successive than former but the mark is almost the same. Why? Because result is the same - nothing was won! Defeats in all fronts - with crunch in UEFA Cup, with struggle in Italian Cup and with the whistle in the last lap of championship. In previous season two points were for Champions League semifinal, in this - three points for the second place in Serie A. Yes, the quality of the game has grown in comparison with the previous season, but fans and specialists do not care about it, when they see that in 2000 Juve had no tropheys, as like is in the 1999. And they do not mind that the teams of those seasons are different as the Earth and Heaven - the result is absent!

The eternal question - who is to blame? As for me, the biggest part of the blame must be laid upon main coach. I am personally had nothing against Ancelotti, but his mistakes are obvious. Yes, he created a perfect defence but in cost of an attack. As a result, in the moment, when the defence were suffering a little crisis (it is quite expected and clear - there also people are playing), the team which without any amplification had the stronges midfield in the world (Zidane, Davids, Conte, Zambrotta, Tacchinardi, Oliseh - all the members of their national teams) appeared not able to target the goals of the teams that had quite weak defence. For example, "Milan" had missed a twice bigger than Juve, "Hellas Verona" and "Peruggia" even more, but exactly to these teams bianco-neri lost in the finish of championship with total score 0:5, and that determined the fate of scudetto. Ancelotti lost all that was possible to loose, and he did it in the most ridiculous ways. In UEFA Cup "Juventus" was a favourite, but was smashed by "Celta", having missed for 90 minutes the same number of balls that he used to miss in championship for about 7 matches! In Italian Cup Old Signora was defeated by strong enemy, but she lost in stupid manner - leading at home 3:0, she allowed "Lazio" to score twice, and was not capable to get a necessary result in Rome. In championship Juventus had the advantage of 9 points under "Lazio" for 8 laps before the end of championship, then - of 5 points for 3 laps, but eventually lost 1 point, having been defeated by ordinal rivals! At first main coach failed to prepare the team for the UEFA Cup, which was considered not so important as Serie A; then - for the single half-time against "Lazio", and finally at the end of the championship he lost all, having lost 4 matches from 8. Ancelotti failed to recondition play of the team under new conditions and to find a hidden recourses, when it already was not any necessity to win with any costs or to break heads in the attack but just to keep what already had been got. Ancelotti appeared not able to ration the pwers wisely and finally lost.