Season 2000/2001

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

Summary

Fans of "Juventus" expected from new season only victories as in Europe so in Italy. In previous season "Juventus" demonstrated that he was able to get scudetto and only misfortune and heaven's rage (in it's straight meaning) did not allow bianco-neri to do that. But ridiculous accidents, in kind of last year's, can't happen always. In addition, from the camps of the main rivals good for Juve news were coming. Head coach of "Lazio" Ericsson in his mind was already in the national team of England and that fact destabilized climate in the club. Unstable "Milan" was not accounted seriously and all Inter's intensions were accepted as a joke when Moratti fired Lippi already after the first lap. After such extraordinary and stupid deed of president of "Inter" had less chances to gain scudetto than a man who wanted to touch the Moon. And "Roma" of Fabio Capello, which after the end of previous season appeared on the 6th position - even lower than a year before - also did not seem to be able to fight for championship although Batistuta was giving bold interviews in every corner. But, as future events showed, Gabriel had grounds of his words and Juve's mishap in 2000 was not an accident...

Against forecasts, logic and healthy mind euro season for "Juventus" was finished even faster than in previous year. The group in Champions League did not seem to be "the group of death" - the most serious rival was spanish grand "Deportivo" from La Coruna, which then was not well-known out of the borders of Spain. Other foes - german "Gamburg" and greek "Panatinaikos" had to be the teams for training and points-supplying. The beginning and the middle of tournament did not break this way of thought. In the first match of group tournament in Gamburg Old Signora played the sparkling draw 4:4. I thought: well, four balls are scored and that means that the attack will be OK in this season, and the fact that four balls are missed means nothing - all will be right there, or Ancelotti is not Ancelotti! Then followed the humble victory 2:1 under "Panatinaikos" at home, but for Ancelotti plain victories under plain teams are characteristic and so noone saw an approaching disaster. But clowds started to fly in Juve's sky after two draws with "Deportivo" - 0:0 in Turin and 1:1 in La Coruna. After effective draw in Spain Ancelotti was not satisfied but also was not disappointed, having said that this result was good for his team - if Juve and Depor had equal number of points at the end of group tournament the first position would belong to bianco-neri because of the best result in mutual meetings. And in future victories under two rivals specialists did not doubt. In vain! It would be useful to remember that exactly "Gamburg" in 1983 became the author of sensation when it had defeated "Juventus" in the final of Champions Cup, which had been hold in... Athens! In the lie of "Panatinaikos"! If only anyone remembered it before but not after the game with "Gamburg"! The defeat from german team appeared as a thunder in the clear skies - way to the second group tournament of the League was closed for "Juventus" and he had only possibility to fight with "Panatinaikos" for the right to play in UEFA Cup. Wihout Zidane, who was disqualified in the game against "Gamburg"... Already in the first time of the match in Athens Juve left with 10 players - for the foul of last hope van der Saar was sent off the field, and on the last minutes Kovacevic went to rest because he had his own opinion about rules which was different from arbiter's. Second year a row the last international match was played by Juve with nine players... What is the result? The last place not in the hardest group - we may call it only as "shame". Not using the rough and vulgar words, of course...

But in Italy they can excuse you everything, if you win scudetto. Ancelotti had the last chance... In the first two matches of Serie A "Juventus" got victories and in the third with honour escaped defeat in "San Sirro", having sneaked the point from "Milan" - future was colored in pink colors. But the next lap made bianco-neri to plunge down from skies into sinful ground - defeat at home from "Udinese" could not be placed into the plans about getting of scudetto. Following victory under weak "Reggina" did not answer the question that had appeared. The draw in "Delle Alpi" in the 6th lap with "Lazio" showed to bianco-neri fans that their favourite team was not stronger than the eagles and, hence, the roman location of scudetto could not be judged as an accident. Then middle-powered "Brescia" appeared strong anough to stay against Juve's forwards (0:0), and in the next lap Juve's defence was made fool of - was leading 2:0 to the 20th minute in "Giuseppe Meazza" under "Inter", which then was ruled by Tardelli, Old Signora eventually recieved only draw. Two fast goals of Trezeguet and Zidane were answered by shoots of Blanc (in the 1 half, after corner) and DiBiaggio (in the 2, from free kick). After that notorious "Parma" was defeated with difficulties. Meanwhile, unexpectedly for me, "Roma" appeared at the top of tournament table. This fact was treated as a casual appearance - roman team got an advantage in matches with weak rivals in which it almost did not loose points. The only defeat romans suffered from half-devastated "Inter" and this fact allowed to consider them to be kings for an hour. In the 12th lap "Juventus" went to "Stadio Olimpico" to prove this presumption. Fabio Capello looked at this game as to the check of the power of his team - a victory or even a draw with one of the powerful clubs of Serie A would prove a strength of "Roma". The game was expected to be thrilling and vivid but the teams played middle dry draw - the most real chance to score was in active of Juve when closer to the end of the game Ferrara after corner targeted the bar. As absolutely right TV-reporter said, a victory of any team would be unfair... In the 13th lap at home "Juventus" played at all different draw with "Fiorentina" - Juve was loosing 0:2 in the first time, then he lead, but eventually missed again. If during the game against "Roma" Juve had problems in the attack, now he had it in defence. Old Signora could not find her play - she had a draw for every victory! It seemed, that all problems were resolved when bianco-neri from 14 to 16 laps won for 3 times and did not miss a single ball. But this impression appeared wrong - in the last lap of circle Juve showed a disgusting play, having been defeated by "Atalanta" in "Stadio Azzouri d'Italia".

After unexpected defeat in Bergamo there were five victorious matches, in which Old Signora scored 10 goals and missed none. Among these games it was one of the best - at home against "Milan". Extraordinary serie of matches! For pity, after it, as a thunder in a clear sky, the roman disaster happened - the crush from "Lazio". Perhaps, this sudden defeat made the team to loose it's game. In the next, 24th lap, Juve once more in the season appeared not able to win "Brescia"... In the next week only penalty kick realized by DelPiero allowed to get 3 points in Verona. The game with "Inter" was good but nerro-azzouri could not serve as a rule of quality at that time ... And then there were three draws which finally cost a scudetto for "Juventus". At first "Parma" did not score by itself and did not allow to score Juve. Then Inzaghi missed from penalty the goal of "Lecce", and the distance to "Roma" growed to 4 points, and Juve failed to decrease it in Turin battle. Yes, in the finish of championship "Juventus" won five last games, but it had not any sense... Frantically fighted for the place in Serie A "Napoli", particulary with the help of loaned in Juve Amoruso, deprived volves of two points. And Fate in the last lap with hands (or with legs) of "Parma" could present scudetto to "Juventus". If milk kings triumphed Juve would be the champion, and if they played a draw - it would be the golden match for scudetto. But "Parma" lost the game. In their typical style the cynics from "Football" magazine wrote:"What for "Parma" should sacrifice itself? Why, either in case of victory Juve would give them Zidane with Inzaghi in addition?" Well, I do not know, Inzaghi, may be... :) But I can ask another quastion: if "Lazio" in 2000 presented "Peruggia" Nedved with Boksic in addition?

Players

Best

1. David Trezeguet.
David adventured his career when was coming from "Monaco" to "Juventus" - noone was going in favour of the newcomer to tear the pair of forwards DelPiero-Inzaghi, which already had been playing for 3 years. And besides this, exept frenchman, also there was Kovacevic, who made bids for the place in the main squad. And it was clear that DelPiero in any case would preserve his place in attack (Alessandro is a player of other type), but Kovacevic and Inzaghi were the direct competitors to David. During all the season Inzaghi and Trezeguet with constantly altering success were fighting for the place in the first squad and Kovacevic was only looking on that struggle from the bench. Eventually frenchman won and to the end of championship Inzaghi already had known that would have to leave the club to avoid the fate of bench-warmer. Frankly speaking, I did not expect that Trezeguet would be so successeful and that he would become the best striker of the team. In the great deal my doubts were reasoned by previous mishap of David's former team-mate Henry. Thanks God, noone decided to use Trezeguet as a wing midfield and David rightfully became the best player in this season.

2. Igor Tudor.
At last groatian player showed himself in all power! Being in the first squad not frequently, Tudor scored 6 goals (do not forget that he is a central defender!), the same number as constantly represented there playmaker Zidane and smaller only by three than forward DelPiero! I have premonition that Igor has surprised not only me. Without any doubts, he became the main discovery of this season, and if other players had the same energy and will, I believe that scudetto would be in Turin.

Discoveries

It is so happened, that in this season those became the best players, who somehow unexpectedly showed themselves from the best side and recessed the well-known leaders of the team. They were Trezeguet and Tudor. That's why "the best players" and "players-discoveries" are the same, but changed in order - Tudor could not be better than Trezeguet not only because he rarely appeared in the field, but more because of his position of central defender. But his position could not hamper him to become the main discovery of the season - we expected from Trezeguet to show his bombarder qualities, but not from Tudor.

1. Igor Tudor. See the best players

2. David Trezeguet. See the best players

Disillusions

1. Fabian O'Neil.
A good penny was paid for playmaker of "Cagliari" and Uruguay national team - he had to be an assistent for attackers, an alternate for Zidane. And he became it, having done all the way of all Zidane's alternates - from a locker-room to the bench :). Who can play under the forwards when Zidane is alive? For sure, O'Neil is a main disappointment of the season - they expected from him great deeds and he has done nothing. But the trick and the tragedy is that there is no even the smaller fault of Fabian - he just had no chances. It is clear, that Juve bosses wanted to assure themselves on the case of Zidane's injure, but should they break a career of the perfect player? But, after all, I think that neither club nor player eventually had any regrets - "Juventus" sneaked O'Neil from under the nose of "Milan", who urgently needed a good playmaker then, and as for Fabian, he, while just sitting on the bench in Turin, earned a good penny... All's well that ends well!

2. Johnathan Bacchini.
Jonathan repeated fate of O'Neil - it was no place in the squad for him. But if it's not wise to change playmakers during the season, to do it with wing players is not extraordinary thing. Especially if you know that Pessotto, who plays on the same position with Jonathan, frequently injured and, in fact, older for half a dozen years. As to me, it would be hard to find better change for Pessotto than Bacchini. One of Juve's websites, when commented Bacchini's transfer to "Parma", called him "inempressive". Let me ask these guys - where were their eyes when Bacchini was on the field? For example, during Berlusconi trophey game, when he just tore the right wing of "Milan"? Well, here I am disappointed not with the player but with how he was treated - at first they sent him in loan to "Brescia", and after end of the season transferred him to "Parma". Ridiculous decision, especially if to look at the fact that in this season during the games Pessotto was shifted by Paramatti, who, with all my respect to him, worser than Jonathan in speed and creative play (but better in defence - can you see the hand of Ancelotti?), and from the season of 2003 in the place of the left defender was used right midfield Zambrotta! And I can not understand at all Parma's bosses, who also sent Bacchini to "Brescia" - Parma had neither Pessotto nor Paramatti!
Why, any player of Juve, who is coming to "Parma", may without any hesitation bet that he would not play there. Bacchini was in 2002. In 2003 was young and talanted left midfield Matteo Brighi (who was invited into national team - at the age of 20 years!), who disappeared from football horyzon at all after coming to milk capital of Italiy (a year later I knew that he also was transferred to "Brescia"). In 2004 was also young and talanted left defender Emiliano Moretti, who was sent by Tanzi to "Bologna". By the way, as you may admit, all these players not only were transferred from Juve to Parma but also each of them is playing on the left wing! Perhaps, there is no such wing in "Parma" and the team needs not players on this position?..

3. Mario Zanchi.
A ghastly fate that befall players from Juve in "Parma" in Juve itself befall players from Udine. Zanchi followed the doom of roughly forsaken Bacchini. But exactly this pal got what he was worth of (besides, he is also defender, but central). In "Udinese" he was the giant of defence and, as any good italian defender, at the moment appeared in the area of interests of the club from Turin. At the beginning of the season Montero and Ferrara were injured and Ancelotti made a decision to put in the centre of the defence Tudor and Zanchi. And then he regreted. For example, precisely Mario made mistake in the last lap of Champions League group tournament against "Panatinaikos", and van der Saar had to break the rules. What then followed this pitiful episode is well-known (if not - read the summary of the season). Of course, it was the greatest Mario's fault, and it may happen with anyone, but the truth is that Ancelotti was not going to give him another chance because had a lot of experienced players - Montero, Ferrara, Tudor and Paramatti...

4. Zinnedine Zidane.
Ah, ah, ah... Not the main disappointment, but... During this season Zizou was not in the team the player he used to be. No, as always, his play was perfect, but as to me, without former sparkle, without unstoppable wish. And I do not want to remember at all about two disqualifications in the League group tournament, which became one of the reasons of the collapse in Europe (may be, the main - imagine, Juve played two matches with not full number of players and some matches more without leader of the midfield) ... After some sober contemplation we may make the conclusion that Juve bosses did not make a mistake when they sold Zidane to Madrid after season had finished. Well, if He wanted by himself... Anyway, thank you for all, Zizou! You are the best!

Matches

Best

1. Juventus FC - AC Milan 3:0 (Tudor, Inzaghi, Zidane). 20th lap of Serie A.
Again match with "Milan" becomes the best. It is quite reasonable to think that I am especially fond of victories gained against rosso-neri and that I in every occasion want to make an accent on them. May be, it's true :), but look at the facts: in 1997 Old Signora presented to "Milan" 6 balls, in 1998 - 4, and in 2000 and 2001 - 3! And it's in the matches with historical rival, grand!
In this match, in difference with that one in autumn, rosso-neri had no chances - the score is quite adequate to the game. Representers of all Juve's lines scored.

2. Juventus FC - FC Internazionale 3:1 (Tacchinardi, Inzaghi,DelPiero). 26th lap of Serie A.
In the middle of the second circle "Juventus" got some decrease in it's game, and this result surprised me. After a serie of gray and grave matches Old Signora defeated "Inter" in vivid manner, and the only ball of prestige was scored by Vieri from penalty kick.

3. AC Milan - Juventus FC 2:2 (Trezeguet, Conte). 3th lap of Serie A.
The toss made grandes to meet already at the beginning of the championship, and they showed that both were worth of scudetto. First half was played in equal struggle with some advantage of bianco-neri, the same plot of the game was witnessed in the second half. But in mutual attaks "Milan" was more lucky. At first after corner Francesco Coco overjumped all the foes, and soon Shevchenko appeared faster than Tudor and Zanchi, who played in the center of the defence then, also with the head sent the ball into the net. In excuse of groatian defender I can say that although the ball appeared in the goal after the shoot with a head but after the cross from the right wing and it was flying not high so Shevchenko even had not to jump. It was about 20 minutes till the end of the game, and it was hard to believe that the match could be saved. But it was, with two wise Ancelotti's shifts. At once after the second goal he cast Trezeguet on the field, and frenchman was met in "San Sirro" with the whistle, because tiffosi remembered the golden ball which was scored by David in Euro-2000. And Trezeguet answered to such demonstration of hospitality with quick goal, having nailed the ball into the goal after Zidane's perfect cross from the left wing. And when it remained about 10 minutes, Ancelotti sent to struggle Antonio Conte, who had just cured his injure. And Captain on the 89th minute with fantastic kick from the edge of the penalty zone, from right, shooted exactly left side of Abbiati's goal! It was fair, that match finished in such way. Yes, the match was not victorious for Juve, but was one of the most interesting and splendid games of all the season.

Worst

Almost every match of the Champions League in this season could be called as one of the worst to Juve, and that's why here I describe only matches of Serie A.

1. SS Lazio - Juventus FC 4:1 (DelPiero). 23th lap of Serie A.
Even if matches of Champions League were in our sight it would be impossible to find out the worser match than this - "Lazio" just tore "Juventus" into pieces. The part of main undertakers of Old Signora was played by Nedved and Crespo. In the second time, when the score was 2:0, Davids was sent off, and then DelPiero with beautiful shoot, almost from the instant place, targeted the upper corner of the goal of former teammate Peruzzi. But just born hope was quite fast pecked to death by roman eagles. Without any doubt, the worst match of the season. The defeat is more bitter under the light of the fact that "Lazio" prooved that it was stronger than Juve and was worth of scudetto in previous season more than bianco-neri.

2. Atalanta - Juventus FC 2:1 17th lap of Serie A. Own goal.
Disgusting match from the point of view of it's plot, when the teams had minimum of dangerous moments. Juve, who came to Bergamo to get 3 points, created nothing in attack, and only in the middle of the second time one of the "Atalanta" players with his head in perfect manner sent the ball into own goal. But then two awful mistakes in bianco-neri's defence caused the bad result. Perhaps, "Atalanta" was not worth of the victory, but "Juventus" desurved the defeat with his weak play in attack and stupid mistakes in defence.

Serie A Matches

Eight best teams of Serie A

Scorers

Champions League Matches

First Group Tournament

Gamburg - Juventus FC 4:4 (Inzaghi(3), ?).
Juventus FC - Panatinaikos 2:1 (?, Trezeguet).
Juventus FC - Deportivo 0:0 .
Deportivo - Juventus FC 1:1 (Inzaghi).
Juventus FC - Gamburg 1:3 (?).
Panatinaikos - Juventus FC 3:1 (Inzaghi).

Goals

Like in the previous season, Juve lost all tropheys, and in connection with the fact very important goals are absent. But it would be not interesting to left this part empty second time a row, and that's why I accent your attention on some goals, rather just vivid than important.

Most Important

1. Bari AS - Juventus FC 0:1. DelPiero. 19th lap of Serie A.
This goal, which was scored by DelPiero on the last minutes of the match with Bari, did not allow Juve, who was chasing "Roma", to loose valuable points. But the main is not this. A few days before the match Alessandro's father had died, and the leader of bianco-neri, apparently, dedicated the goal to his father - after scoring Sandro wept... Ancelotti, being conscious of player's irremediable sorrow, left DelPiero on the bench, and thought to defeat southern team without Sandro. But Bari's defence appeared strong enough to resist as to Inzaghi, so to Kovacevic, which was playing from the first minutes, and to Fonseca, who was summoned from some bosom of the bench in the second half. And Ancelotti had no other choice than to use Penturiccio...

2. AC Milan - Juventus FC 2:2. Conte. 3th lap of Serie A.
Antonio equalized the score on the last minutes in the life and death struggle at the beginning of championship with perfect shoot almost from the edge of the penalty zone.

Catastrophic

1. Juventus FC - Roma AS 2:2. Montella. 29th lap of Serie A.
The only, but of what price! Scudetto was on the toss! In 29th lap Juve met "Roma". The distance between the teams consisted of 4 points, and in case of Old Signora's victory it would almost appear into nothingness. And the match started perfectly - to the 20th minute "Juventus" was leading 2:0 and totally controlled the game. But the plot of the game entirely changed in the second half after Hiditoshi Nakata had stepped on the field. Japanese midfield at first scored by himself and then, in the last minutes of the game, after his powerful kick van der Saar pulled the ball with dificulties but did not catch it and Montella appeared faster than defenders and sent the leather bullet into the net. After final whistle roman players were chuckling like children because they understood that just had almost won scudetto. And the blame for the missed goal for some reason was laid upon deutch goalkeeper. As for me, it was the fault defenders - they at first allowed Nakata to shoot and then did not hamper Montella.

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.

Transfers

sponsors

Technical	Official in Serie A	Official in Champions League

Conclusions

Mark: 3 (from 13)
Realisation of opportunities: 23%.

Once more three points for the second place in Serie A. This season appeared even more obscure than previous but the mishap was easily to digest because this year Juve played a part of chaser and unconsciously we were ready for not getting scudetto, in difference with previous season, when nobody awaited such kind of final.

But they could not forgive the second mishap to Ancelotti. And they had ratio. "Juventus" before the season became much stronger. Now not only in Italy, but in the whole world, there was not any club with the midfield which could be compared with bianco-neri's. Zidane and O'Neil - the brains of France and Uruguay national teams, Davids - the engine of Netherlands national team under the support of italian hard-workers Tacchinardi, Zambrotta and Conte formed the group unseen before. More than that, Trezeguet made the attack much stronger. And what? Scudetto was lost in struggle against "Roma", which was more weaker from the point of view of squad, in Champions League Juve suffered the shame from gray middle-level teams "Gamburg" and "Panatinaikos", and about Italian Cup I can not say anything at all. Such things can't be excused even without additional circumstances, but the wounds of the past seasons have not yet been cured...

When Ancelotti was bringing the team in the last lap of the season against "Atalanta" he knew that it was his last game as Juve's head coach. Nothing could help him - even the marvel of scudetto, which could be presented by "Parma". Ancelotti had to leave in any case. And, for pity, not with his head erect high, in difference with his predecessor... Frankly speaking, I could not accommodate myself to see Ancelotti as Juve's main coach... But he spent two years and the half on that position, and without any doubt, left his trace in club's history. What his team and his players can be remembered for?

The first is two second positions in Serie A, the second and the third to Ancelotti himself. It could be a success for many clubs in Calcio, but not for "Juventus". The second is only 20 missed goals in the season of 2000, and it is with use only of 3 defenders! But even the strongest defence can't ensure the victory in championship if attack won't score. And exactly for this the team of 2000 can be blamed - it scored only 46 balls, smaller than any team from the first eight(!) and smaller by 18 than champion - "Lazio".

The face of that team is Inzaghi. Remarkable player, who can create the goal from nothing, but who also can miss a great couple of perfect moments, ten times a game appear in off-side or to be lost on the field at all. Yes, Filippo is more the player of Ancelotti than of Lippi - with Carlo he spent 2.5 seasons, and with Marcello - 1,5. With Ancelotti Inzaghi played in "Parma", with him he will raise the Champions Cup in purely Ancelotti's "Milan", the team which will score in 5 matches of League's play-off only 4 balls...
The face of that team is Zidane of Ancelotti's age, the same Zidane, but who stayed in memory not with his play as Lippi's, but with two red cards in the League. Great Zizou is the player as of Lippi, so of Ancelotti - with both of them he spent for 2.5 years. But the first Zidane won two scudettos, UEFA Supercup and Intercontinental Cup, twice played in the final of League. The second Zidane kept only Berlusconi trophey.
The face of that team is Kovacevic, which always stayed in the shadow and almost never missed his chance to score. The face of that team is van der Saar. Like Ancelotti on the coaches place, this long deutchman was a stranger for me in the goal. But, to tell the truth, this attitude to him was fully emotional and had not serious grounds - he stayed quite well. At all, as to my opinion, Edvin got many slashing criticism which he did not deserve - he was not making magic, but... Yes, he did not save the team, when it seemed that he might but it would be ridiculous to condamn him in global unsuccess. But I'm still sure, that in the goal, which for so many years was guarded by legendary Dino Dzoff, must stay italian player... As we can see, Juve bosses, apparently, were thinking in similar strain, as they invited Gianlouigi Buffon to replace van der Saar.

Frankly speaking, I'm ached for Kovacevic and van der Saar, these perfect players, which have won with Juve nothing. Some of their partners had done it in the past days, others - will win later, and they'll stay as a part of Juve's victorious history. But for this two, undoubtfully scilled and talanted players, Turin became just the place of transfer, the city of lost hopes and bitter disappointments. And they were worth of much better...

Perhaps, Ancelotti was not the best candidate on the place of Juve's head coach after Lippi's leaving. Perhaps, it would be better to find more qualified specialist who had tasted the victories and had learnt the price of them. Perhaps, they had to persuade Capello to come to Turin. But, may be, all was done quite right. May be, Ancelotti just had tough luck... In championship. In second. But the blame of ridiculous scudetto's lost in 2000 and of two collapses in Europe, as for me, rests on him. But, may be, I am too wrongful as to him and mistaken at all. Let Ancelotti excuse me then, for, as the poet said, "Who shall escape calumny?" Who, indeed?