Season 2002/2003

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

The Fall of Monarchy

So, new season was starting. In it "Juventus" had not only to prove the righteousness of his previous success in Italy but also recover lost positions in Europe. As for me, he had chances, notwithstanding ukrainian mass-media were trying to persuade of contraries. Ukrainian press and this time decided not to be original and named "Milan" as a main challenger for scudetto. Why, now sharks of feather explained their choice with coming to rosso-neri Rivaldo, Nesta, Seedorf and on some purpose Simic, but we know the real reason of such opinion :) ... Juve, on the contrary, was not taken to attention. For example, newspaper "Team" was writing about actions of the club from Turin on the transfer market:"Although the team was able not to loose any of it's main players, but anyhow the diffident steps of Old Signora on transfer market can not be called in other way than jibbing on the same place." And farther: "Thus, it seems that scudetto, according to the tradition that appeared in last years, will alter it's owner." This newspaper to the serious advantages of "Milan" added even Tomasson, having called him "the dream of any coach". Hm, well... Thinking, that DelPiero and Trezeguet, as minimum, are not worser than Shevchenko and Inzaghi comparently, we must also recognize that Salas and DiVaio for sure in great deal better than such "dream of any coach". About this aspect journalists preffered to keep silence... Lippi, in his side, said about unactive summer transfer policy:"Last season we displayed what a solid group we are and that we don't need anyone."

Somehow or other, but life forced bianco-neri to make a couple of acquirements. Pessotto had appeared out of squad in spring, in the World Cup wicked koreans lamed Zambrotta and he had to miss several monthes, and at the end of summer it became known that Trezeguet would miss the first half of the season because of old confirmed injure. On this reasons to the left wing of midfield the leader of central line of "Peruggia" David Bayocco was called, to the right wing - Mauro German Camoranesi from "Hellas Verona", and to the attack - the best striker of "Parma" Marko DiVaio, who had been in appears of two balls from Trezeguet last season. Considering that also not weak defence was braced by Salvatore Fresi from "Bologna", who in previous season not only perfectly played in the last line but also scored 6 balls, the aqcuirements of the club from Turin were not looking too weak. "Juventus" was quite ready for labour and defence.

And he proved it in the two first laps of championship having won two matches with total score 5:0. After the victory 3:0 under "Atalanta" in the first lap (by the way, deciding not to adjourn his goal for a long time Fresi scored perfectly from far distance) Lippi said:"We've played the fantastic game as for the start of the season. I'm glad with all - with movenment, with work with the bal, with the mood. I'm sure that we are on the right way and that we'll fight for many in this season." His words appeared a prophecy. Even almost lost match of the third lap became a confirmation of words of Old Signora's head coach of. Then "Juventus" in "Delle Alpi" played with "Parma", in which the duet of young forwards Mutu-Adriano made all to speak about them. For 7 minutes before the end of the game the club from Turin was loosing 0:2. Of course, it was not the result they could to agree with. On the last minutes of the match after the corner in parmesan's penalty ground a great hustle appeared and there Igor Tudor became the most dexterous. And in added time DelPiero, using the cross from own part of the field, broke in the penalty zone of the milky team and with powerful shoot equalized the score. The thing was that Alessandro touched the ball with an arm when taking it, and thus that goal summoned the rage of parmesan players and their coaches. Notwithstanding their objections the goal was scored up. Yes, Penturicchio really has touched the ball with hand but he made it unconsciously, he tried to maintain a balance Parma's defender joggled him in the passion of struggle. If Sandro did not scored arbiter should appoint the penalty kick. Of course, parmesans were not interested in such details and after the match Arigo Sacci, the technical director of "Parma", ran at Juve's vice-president Roberto Bettega. Respected gentlemen had to be set apart. As always in the same cases, kind-hearted people blamed "Juventus" in bribe of arbiters, and, as always, they talked a little and ceased to.

This draw was followed with two more, quite ridiculous. The first was at home with newcomer of Serie A - "Como", and the second - with "Internazionale" in "Giuseppe Meazza". In Milan the play was going with equal chances. Some good moments were spoiled by Marcelo Salas, and he was shifted for that in the middle of the second time. And on the 85th Camoranesi was knocked over in Inter's penalty zone, and DelPiero realized the eleven-meters kick. Juve did not give chances to save the game to the foe, trying to keep the ball as far as possible from own goal. But in added time nero-azouri recieved a right for corner and even their goalkeeper Toldo went to Juve's penalty box. Exactly he became the hero of episode - touching the ball first he sent it to the goalkeeper's zone, and there it from Vieri's leg appeared in the net. The second year in a row "Inter" saved itself in his own field in added minutes of match.

In 6th, 7th and 8th laps Juve got three victories with the minimal score under "Udinese", "Modena" and "Piacenza". These teams were solving far different tasks than Old Signora and on the reason it was difficult to say something about real force of the club from Turin. For eight laps of championship bianco-neri played only with two clubs from the Great Six and both matches ended with draws. But "Milan", who was the rival in 9th lap, was exactly those litmus paper on which serious conclusions could be done. Milan's team at the beginning of the season showed the most powerful and impressive game not only in Italy but, may be, in whole Europe. Why, in Champions League they appeared in the "group of death" with "Deportivo", "Bayern Munich" and with french "Olimpic" from Lion. And rosso-neri in the first four matches got four victories, having defeated german club twice and having crashed spainish team on it's field. "Milan", as already was said, considered to be one of the main competitors for scudetto. And now Juve had to prove that alsough he had not made such great acquirements as "Milan" but became more stronger than before. And he proved it with defeating "Milan" in one of the best matches of the season. In 10th lap Juve demonstrated "Torino" that was not going to repeat the mistakes of previous season - 4:0.

It seemed that then "Juventus" would increase his advantage under competitors but... In the next match with "Bologna" in "Delle Alpi" Lippi altered the squad giving rest to main players before League games, and bianco-neri hardly saved theirselves when at the end of the match equalized the score thanks to Juliano's efforts. And after week passed at the end of the first half Juve was loosing 0:2 to "Roma" in "Stadio Olimpico". But DelPiero after corner in added minute of the first time scored one ball, and in the end of the match Nedved saved Old Signora from defeat. Unfortunately, trick of this kind failed in Brescia, and then in Turin it was repeated by "Lazio", which answered Nedved's goal with two exact shoots of Fiore. Now "Inter" and "Milan" were leading, and four laps without victories of Juve gave TV-observer the reason to claim that "the trio of challengers appears into the pair". Thanks God, he was mistaken. And very much! In the three last matches of the first round Old Signora got three victories having scored 10 goals and having missed only one!

And in the second circle "Juventus" outstripped his rivals having won seven matches from the first eight and only once having played in a draw. And among these seven victories it was one which costed more than others - the crash of "Inter" in "Delle Alpi" in 23th lap, after which nerro-azouri appeared behind Juve on the distance of six points and after which I seriously began to hope that in the 2003 "Juventus" will remain to be the champion of Italy. Why, except "Inter" only "Milan" was Juve's straight foe but after the serie of mishaps it was in arrears of 9 points. And alsough rosso-neri made the first defeat of Old Signora in the second circle (it happened in the 26th lap in "San Sirro"), it little helped them - the gap to Juve in 6 points still remained quite big and "Inter" in that lap failed to get points having been got a licking from "Udinese" in "Friuli".

In the following matches all befall just perfectly - "Milan" at first lost and then in the 28th lap defeated "Inter", so even the single point that was heroically got in "Del Ara" from the claws of "Bologna" increased the distance from both milan's clubs. Now they could only hope for Juve's mistakes and his task was to avoid them. Alsough the task was quite possible to solve but it was not easy, if to remember that, among other matches, Old Signora had to fight with two roman grands. "Roma" was defeated in difficult match in "Delle Alpi" - 2:1. By the way, after this match also appeared the usual roar about the tale that arbiters help Juve - one of the goals DelPiero scored from penalty kick. It seems that it is impossible at all to appoint a penalty kick in Juve's favour without provoking these mad cries. This time they said that referee did not recognized that Juve's player pretended breaking of the rules. Well, nothing new, but that player was... Pavel Nedved. As to me, pretending and Nedved - two uncompatible things. This my opinion was acknowledged by well-known actor and specialist in the cases of pretending Francesco Totti, who claimed after the match that he did not believe that Pavel is able to pretend. Golden words :)!

In any case, exactly roman clubs in the 30th lap greatly helped "Juventus". "Rome against Milan. Turin wins." - under this header in "Football" magazine was depicted the 30th lap of Serie A, when "Roma" defeated "Milan" and "Lazio" collected 2 points from "Inter" - Juve's advantage under two milan's clubs now consisted of 12 and 8 points consequently, and only "Inter" remained theoretical chances. But nerro-azouri decided to fight no more in the next lap when on the match against "Atalanta" Cuper cast the second squad giving main players the rest before semifinal of Champions League and thus showing the white flag. Meanwhile "Juventus" lost two points in Rome, where "Lazio" were dominating all the match but failed to get victory when on the last minutes Buffon saved Fiore's shoot from 11 meters. Now the road for scudetto was open and "Juventus" got his 27th scudetto in the next lap playing a draw with "Peruggia". But celebrations on the case were adjourned because few days later in Turinå the second semifinal of Champions League against "Real Madrid" should be played.

And the way to this leg of the most famous european tournament was not easy. The only leg of the League, which was passed through without any difficulties was the first group tournament where "Feyenoord", "Newcastle United" and "Dynamo Kyiv" were Juve's competitors. The presence of ukrainian vice-champion in the group gave me a great joy because promised, as minimum, two straight broadcasts of Juve matches and constant (till the end of group tournament) attantion to bianco-neri from national mass-media. In the first lap Old Signora played a draw 1:1 in Rotterdam, and the second match appeared to be a great pleasure for me. The victory 5:0 against "Dynamo" was quite impressive by itself, but also the goals were the masterpieces! The first and the third ones were scored in the first and second halfs by DiVaio who was almost flying in the air. The others just demonstrated a full superiority of "Juventus" in class. At first Tiberio Gioane decided to compete in technic with Nedved near own penalty ground, Pavel supported his glorious intensions - czech midfield tackled the ball and crossed to goalkeeper's zone where DelPiero had only to put his leg. Then, already in the second half, the same Nedved in a power struggle in the left wing tackled the ball from Georgy Peev and, while Peev was trying to explain to arbiter his point of view on the episode, from outside the box sent the leather bullet to the goal of "Dynamo". And already at the end of the match Davids at all mocked at ukrainian vice-champion - he scored having cheated half of the enemy's team in their own penalty zone. After the match the coaches and the bosses of "Dynamo" condemned their team in the absence of character, but the players of ukrainian team had their own opinion about this shameful defeat. For example, Gavrancic said that "Dynamo" played with one of the most powerful teams of the world and the main aspirant for the Champions Cup. Of course, also a TV-observer of the match could not miss a chance to say something stupid - he blamed in the defeat of "Dynamo"... black magic! This thoughtful decision he based on the following reasons. At first, he said, ukrainian team did not deserve such crash, at second, Turin was considered to be one of the centres of diabolism in the Middle Ages, and, at third, it is precisely 666 km between Turin and Rome. The second TV-observer, one of the rare good in the ukrainian TV, admitted that Turin, except witches, is also famous as the birthplace of martini.

Then there were two plays with "Newcastle" - the victory 2:0 at home and the defeat 0:1 in guests, and after the victory 2:0 in "Delle Alpi" under "Feyenoord" the task of passing through the first group tournament was resolved. On this reason in the last lap Lippi brought the odd squad to Kyiv, but "Dynamo" failed to use this. For pity. In that match I supported my countrymen...

Problems appeared in the second group tournament. Having noticed two previous years, a trip in the second lap to La Coruna did not promise anything good. And really, to the thirteenth minute Juve was loosing two balls! Luckily, already on the 34th minute one of them was revanged. Birindelli, having gone by the left edge and then having moved a little to the centre, unexpectedly kicked from outside the box straight to the goal. And already at the beginning of the second half Nedved equalized the score. Notwithstanding the following efforts of both teams none of them scored more. In the second lap "Basel" recieved in "Delle Alpi" four goals, and came back to the country of cheese and chocolate. In the third and in the fourth laps Old Signora had to play against "Manchester". And both matches were lost. At first before the match in Manchester two thirds of Juve's first squad were out because of gripp. The attempts to pursuade UEFA to cancel the match failed, and the odd squad strenghtened with several kickers of the first team played in "Old Trafford". Therefore, the odd squad played much better then the first one two weeks later in Turin. Luckily, "Deportivo", in it's turn, lost one of his matches against "Basel", so after the four laps italian and spain teams had for four points and had to define the destiny of the second position in mutual meeting. In the fifth lap at last fate smiled to Old Signora, having sceared before. Already on the 12th minute Ciro Ferrara after a corner sent the ball to the web of guest's goal. But in the middle of the first half Diego Tristan after Makaay's assist equalized the score, and at the beginning of the second deutchman by himself scored. A threaten the second year in a row to appear off the League on the leg of the second group tournament were flying under "Juventus". David Trezeguet saved his club from disaster by right shoot on the 65th minute. And already in the added time the tribunes of "Delle Alpi" were sent into great joy by Igor Tudor, who brought the victory to bianco-neri - at once after the final whistle Old Signora appeared in a play-off. This allowed with a kind heart to present a victory to "Basel" in Switzerland.

After the toss-up of the quarterfinals of the League the only thing I regreted was that I had not put any money on a bet on the results of the toss. I guessed all quarterfinal pairs! All of them! By the rules of the toss "Juventus" could meet with "Milan", "Valencia" or "Barcelona". I always liked "Barcelona" in Spain, "Juventus" has never played with it, so I would like to see it. Having kept in mind my hot love to "Manchester" and "Real", I would be very glad if one of them would sweep out another already in the leg of quarterfinal. Besides, it would be interesting if Cuper would meet his former team - "Inter" should play with "Valencia". Then the last pair was made with "Ajax" and "Milan", which also are the old friends. To my surprise, the toss decided the same way as I had! Why the thunder I had not put the money on a bet?..

The first quarter-final was hold in Turin and did not appear to be something special. "Juventus" scored on the 16th minute - Montero accepted congratulations after a corner. And farther Juve had advantage but failed to made goals of it. Concerning to Barcelona, during the first time it did not perform a single kick on the Buffon's goal, but in the second half it equalized the score with the efforts of Saviola. The second match appeared to be more interesting. On the beforematch press-conference Lippi confessed that he had a dream that "Juventus" and "Barcelona" had had a draw 2:2. And Luis Enrique, the captain of catalonian club, exhorted the fans to visit "Camp Nou" and to support Barcelona - the club badly played in national championship and the only chance to be in Champions League in the next season was to win it in this one. The first half was spent quite boring - at the beginning of the match DiVaio was one-to-one with Bonano but slipped. But already in the start of the second half, on the 53th minute, Juve opened the score - near the left corner of the penalty ground Davids served to Nedved, Pavel broke through Andersson and Puyol and, having outstripped deBoer who was truing to hamper him, sent the ball to the nearest corner. Mad of this "Barcelona" rushed forward and triumphed on the 66th minute - Overmars crossed from right wing, Thuram overjumped Kluivert and pushed the ball out, but exactly to Xavi who on the move shooted to the right nearest corner of Buffon's goal. Barsa fully took the advantage, Juve answered with good counter-attacks. As it's said, noone wanted to die, but a single mistake would kill on the place. Well, it was one of those matches when the supporters of both teams are constantly catching their heart-pills. All was not too bad, but before 10 minutes till the end of the match Gram Pall sent off Davids. On the purpose to squash Old Signora Radomir Antic, head coach of Barcelona, put Gerrard and Riquelme on the field, and Lippi, having smelled the frying, shifted exhausted DelPiero on fresh giant Tudor with evident intensions to move the battle on barricades. And Barcelona stalled in those barricades. Yes, it had some half-moments, but on the 34th minute of additional time Zalayeta scored and broked the serie during which in the League Barcelona did not loose for 15 matches in a row.
On the after-match press-conference Marcello Lippi said: "When Davids was sent off, I was afraid the worst. But the guys have played just perfectly! Do not praise my tactic - praise them! Davids was the best in our team, that's why I could not shift him after the first yellow card".

Juve came into semifinal where he had to play with the champion of Europe -with "Real Madrid". Besides, in the first match he had to play not only without Davids, who was disqualified in Barcelona, but also without Montero and Tacchinardi, who got too much yellow cards. Well, the places of Davids and Tacchinardi were taken by Conte and Tudor, the place of Montero - by Juliano, who by some reason then was blamed for the goal of Ronaldo. To tell the truth, he looked quite unimpressive and in the second half was shifted by Pessotto. Anyway, Juve lost 2:1, but it was quite good result, remembering that the second match had to be played in Turin. The fact also was witnessed by DelBosque, who was unsutisfied with result and complained that "Real" could score more. It could, epecially at the beginning and at the end of the game, when had great advantage on the field. But "Real" did not scored more than it did. And was punished for that two weeks later in Turin, when "Juventus" spent his best match of the season.

The last two laps of Serie A became the training to the final of Champions League. In the 33th lap second squad, strenghtened a little with few main players, lost to "Reggina" which was fiercely fighting to remain in Serie A (and which, eventually, did that exactly thanks to this victory), and in the 34th lap played the vivid match with "Chievo". After that only one match remained to be played, and from the one it depended if would the Fourth Great Cycle of "Juventus" appear in 2003. It was the final of Champions League. Unfortunately, Champions Cup was lost. Lost in the serie of after-match penalties. Dida saved three shoots but there were more merit of the kickers - Trezeguet, Zalayeta and Montero. In all my life I have witnessed two ugly and the most stupid performance of penalty kicks - Montero's kick and half year later the one of Costacurta in Toyota Intercontinental Cup. Frankly speaking, they were not the kicks at all - the players just pushed the ball upon the grass to goalkeeper's hands. Well, although Montero is concrete but also just a human... In the after-match conference Lippi said that six players of the team refused to perform the kicks and he just had had not any choice. And can we blame them of cowardice and recreancy? Whom? Ferrara, who at the age of 35 years was playing for 120 minutes? Or Zambrotta, who, as we can conclude from the volume of the work he had made, were playing merely for 3 or 4 hours? Of course, we can not... And just ridiculous, why had not scored Zalayeta, who frequently did that in the national team of Uruguay, and Trezeguet, who had realized after match penalty kick in the World Cup of 1998... In any case - Thank You For Perfect Season!

Players

Best

1. Pavel Nedved.
Here we have no alternative! As one of the italian newspapers has written, "let another players of Juventus not be insulted, but this scudetto is of Pavel Nedved". Of course, he would not has succeded without his partners, but also it is right that he was the best of them. In the previous season Pavel adapted for Juve during half a season and demonstrated what was expected of him only in the second circle. But whole this season he spent on the highest level, having shown all his multifaceted talent in the most important matches. In the first match against "Milan" he unexpectedly, according to Lippi's charges, personally was playing against Andrea Pirlo and totally removed him from the game. In the game in Turin against "Inter" he performed a free kick after which the ball appeared in Toldo's goal, and then scored by himself. During the championship Nedved scored 9 goals, but greatly more goals were scored by Pavel's partners with his assists. In the Champions League he constantly worried goalkeepers of the enemies. The goalkeepers of all the three spainish teams - "Deportivo", "Barcelona" and "Real" - put out the balls after the right shoots of czech midfield, and exactly his ball scored to royal club was oficially recognized by UEFA as the best one in the Champions League of the season 2003/2003. And precisely Nedved's absence, as for me, became a decisive purpose that Champions Cup moved to Milan. Pavel Nedved plays in "Juventus" too big role, as to my mind, even bigger than has played Zidane before, especially in his last two years in Turin. "It was "Juventus" of Platini, it was "Juventus" of Zidane... Now is "Juventus" of Nedved," - said marvellows Zizou by himself, who lost in Real's squad to "Juventus" of Nedved in the semifinal of Champions League.
Thanks to his perfect game Pavel Nedved already in spring was claimed to be the main aspirant for the Golden Ball of 2003 year, which ukrainian journalists, of course, against logic and healthy mind, were giving to Shevchenko. They preffered not to see that Shevchenko, being a forward, in the season of Serie A has scored almost a twice times balls less than midfield Nedved. Well, let Andrey has not scored many balls, but may be he with his sparkling play in the centre of the field made his team to win in Italian championship? Ah, no?.. But, you see, he scored a decisive after match penalty kick in the final of the League. But where was he being during the match? He scored, but his ball was cancelled, they say. Really? Such a pity! After match penalty! And if it was scored, for example, by Serginho, the Golden ball must be given to brazilian? Total absurd! Well, all that I think about ukrainian mass-media and Shevchenko, I has said about in another place... Let Andrey try, undoubtly, he has everything to win, but in this season he has not done a half that Pavel Nedved has.

2. Gianluka Zambrotta.
Gianluka missed about two monthes at the beginning of the season because of injure that was got in the World Cup in the match against Korea (then korean player roughly attacked him from behind and did not get even a yellow card for that; but the topic of the dragging of Korea by the referees is outside of our article), and his place on the right wing of midfield was taken by Camoranesi. Having cured, Zambrotta had to prove Lippi with double energy that he was worth of place at the main squad. He did. Lippi came back him to the first team, having put him on the place of... left defender! On the first sight, it was absolutelly absent-minded decision - Gianluka not only always had played on the right wing before, but in "Bari" had been a forward! But it is only at first sight - Zambrotta, as Pessotto before, got whole wing - from own goal till enemy's one, so, actually, he only changed a wing. As to the work in defence, he would lump it. Of course, such abrupt change of position could not pass harmless at all - remember, for example, the match against Manchester in Turin, when exactly Zambrotta's rough mistake served as a beginning of crash of Old Signora. But it was only an episode, and in a whole Zambrotta was perfect! So, in the 24th lap in Udine on the last minutes of the match, when the score was 0:0, he tackled on the left wing his opponent and precisely crossed to the penalty box on Trezeguet, who in a jump with a leg sent the ball to the goal, having brought the victory to Juve. And in the 28th lap in "Rinato Del Ara" exactly Gianluka appeared the saviour of "Juventus", having scored and having given a cross. Zambrotta quite accommodated himself to the left wing, but when it only befall a necessity, he was ready to come back to the right. In the match with "Real" he came on the field in the main squad as a right midfield, and do not ypu forget who gave to Nedvedó a perfect cross after which Pavel added the last straw to Real's defeat in the semifinal of Champions League? And how about the wolume of dirty work that he had done? Only in the last added by arbiter minutes of the match he organized a couple of breaks through towards the goal of Casillias, the last of which finished with corner, having not allowed the rivals to appear on the Juve's part of the field. By the way, when Camoranesi came on the shift, Gianluka moved to the left wing. And in final of Champions League he was the best in Juve's squad (with Buffon, of course). In the first half Camoranesi played in the right, and I lost a count, how many times Zambrotta was brought down near the left edge of Milan's penalty ground (precisely from there during the season Nedved perfectly performed penalty and free kicks, scoring by himself or assisting to partners). And in the second half Lippi was flying him from one wing to another every 10 minutes - it was necessary either to create a danger, or to hamper new opponent who came on shift, or something else. And Zambrotta got along... "I'm happy yo have such player in the team", - confesses Marcello Lippi. - "Whenever I put him, he'll be useful everywhere." In conclusion I'd like to admit a more than fine manual exersise and state of Zambrotta, which allows him to tear about from whistle to whistle - in this component he can be beaten only by the same Pavel Nedved.

Discoveries

1. Mauro German Camoranesi.
Dexterious and speedy argentine, who came from "Verona", at the beginning of the season perfectly replaced injured Zambrotta and was not going to left the position when Gianluka was cured. Exactly Mauro's vivid play became one of the reasons that Zambrotta appeared in the left wing of defence. Actually, Camoranesi has one serious vice - he is not stable, his perfect matches frequently are mixed with truly bad. But when Mauro is in his best, rivals hardly can find a shelter from him. His sparkling technic (I am greatly impressed with his scill to shift the ball from one leg to another on the run or to change the direction to antipodal on the high speed) is naturally mixed with good feeling of goal, and he is able to score not only with foots but also with the head, in spite of his short height (as in the match against "Bologna"). Undoubtfully, it is the most precious acquirement of Juve bosses in this season. Camoranesi's merits were acknowledged by the inviting to the national team of... Italy! Giovanni Trapppatoni, having used Mauro's double citizenship, quickly invited him into the "squadra azurra", meanwhile Marcelo Bielsa missed his chance.

Disillusions

1. Marco DiVaio.
The player, who had scored in the previous season only for two balls less than the best striker of Serie A Trezeguet, was expected more. Actually, Marco was bought to replace David who was absent almost during all the autumn because of injure. But DiVaio appeared not able to do it in a whole - the time for adaptation passed but he still was only the faded shadow of the man he used to be in "Parma". Well, it must be admitted that he used his moments and was not too bad, but in "Parma" Marco not only realized the moments but also created them for himself... Something resemble to his former performance Di Vaio demonstrated in the champion match against "Peruggia" in "Delle Alpi", when he from the left wing broke into the goalkeeper's zone, cheated on the speed two defenders and shooted the farsest corner of the goal. We must hope that in the next season Marco will show all that he is able.

2. Marcelo Salas.
Salas has the same kind of story as in the previous season... Having convalesced from his injure, Marcelo started to encrease his form and at the beginning of the season, in the absence of Trezeguet, used to appear in the main squad and looked quite nice for the man who had not been playing for the year but couple of months. And in summer of 2003 Salas came back to the club where he had spent his best years - to "River Plate". It is pity, but in Turin we had not seen that famous Matador, and he could not be blamed for that. Salas is young enough, and I'm sure that he will climb the tops he already had reached before. With big sorrow I say farewell to this player and frankly wish him good luck.

Matches

Best

1. Juventus FC - Ral Madrid CF 3:1. Second Champions League semifinal.
Without any doubts, it is the best match of the season - I think, that both specialists and fans would be agree with me. More than that, it's not only the best match of "Juventus FCà", but also one of the best games in whole Europe in this year. Undefeatable "Real" was defeated with great scill, and just a little time ago spainish club just mocked at "Mancester United", and after that all analytics recognized the royal club to be the main competitor for Champions Cup admitting that "there is unclear how rivals are going to defeat Real". Of course, some of specialists conceded a possibility that one of the three italian semi-finalists would defeat Real (in semi-final or in final), but only with the help of extra-defence, rare counter-attacks and great luck. And noone, except the most optimistic fans (of Juve in this case), expected that the defeat of Royal club would be exactly the result of it's worser performance in comparison with the rival.
About the three goals, which were scored by Old Signora, you may read in the part of the most important goals, and here I'll try to depict the plot of the match. At the beginning of the game the teams pooled with inaccurate shoots of their well-known artillerists - after the shoot of Roberto Carlos from about 35 meters the ball flew near the right bar of Buffon's goal, and after the kick of Nedved from outside of the penalty box - near the left of Cassillias. Then, on the 11-12th minutes "Juventus" performed a sparkling counter-attack which ended with the goal of Trezeguet. Spainish team rushed to equalize the score and almost did it on the 22th minute - after the shoot of Figo the ball appeared on the leg of lonesome Guti, but while he was wondering either he was in off-side, Buffon abolished the threaten. To the end of the first half the advantage in the match appeared in Spainish side and "Juventus" performed some actions to change the situation. At first after the good combination with DelPiero Trezeguet broke through the center of the defence, but Cassillias was first near the ball which was sent by Penturiccio a little faster than it was necessary. But on the 43th minute Alex did his best having scored a wonderful goal. After the break DelBosque cast Ronaldo on the field and brazilian striker got a penalty kick on the 65 minute, which was performed by Figo and perfectly saved by Buffon. After that both of the rivals had chances to hit the goal and on the 73 minute Nedved after Zambrotta's assist scored the goal which were recognized by UEFA to be the best in this League. Real got lost, and then DelPiero failed to realize a couple of good moments. And Zidane did not miss his chance on the 89th minute - after diagonal cross frenchman went by the Juve's right wing and entering the penalty ground strongly shooted the farthest low corner of the goal - Tudor appeared late for some tiny moment to block the kick. Arbiter of the match, Urs Mayer from Switzerland, added five minutes, and chances of spainish players greatly increased, but only theoretically - all their attacks they performed by sending the ball to Juve's penalty box by the air. To tell the truth, they sceared me once - after Raul's kick with the head the ball flew near the right bar. "Juventus" recognized the danger and moved the game to the rival's part of the field, mainly with the efforts of Zambrottta, who few times broke through the left wing and recieved the corner. The final whistle witnessed that in the year of 2003 from Crist's birth the monarchy in Europe was destroyed by turin's proletariat.

2. Juventus FC - FC Internazionale 3:0. 23th lap of serie A.
"Juventus" outstripped "Inter" in 3 points after the 22th lap, and in case of victory he would strenghten his advantage under the foe. Of course, Cuper's team came in "Delle Alpi" also to get 3 points. But Lippi's players scored already in the 3d minute of the match. The faul against Zambrotta in the left wing, almost near the penalty zone, was not left without punishment - Nedved crossed to the corner of goalkeeper's box, where Toldo awry pulled the ball and targeted the own defender, from whom the ball flew to the goal. Nero-azzouri tried to alter the plot of the game but had no success - even having got a territorial advantage for short time, they could not enter penalty zone, and when they used to, Thuram was perfect in brreaking all crosses and passes. From the other side, "Inter" now and there missed dangerous counter-attacks of Italian champion. Nedved would not miss a chance to shoot and in the middle of the time reached the purpose - with powerful kick from about the left corner of penalty ground he targeted Toldo's goal. In the second half of the game the plot changed only in the fact that "Juventus" started to control the ball even more and constantly kept Inter's defence in the pressure. And when at the end of the match the team from Milan endeavoured to create something resemble to the final escalade, trying to score at least once, was punished immediately - Nedved broke through the left wing, almost be the border of the field entered the penalty zone, defrauding defenders to himself, and sent the ball to the centre of the box, where Camoranesi was left alone. Argentine did not spoiled the course and with perfect kick jabbed the ball under the bar. The main competitor in the champion race was crashed - if not the game with "Real", this match would be the best. But now - only the second place.

3. Juventus FC - AC Milan 2:1. 9th lap of serie A.
May be, the match was not too vivid but it had unreal inner straining and two perfect combinations which ended with goals (of course, in Juve's performance - Milan's goal was prosaic :) ). All goals of the match were scored in the first half, about it's middle. Attakcs with waves were threatening the goals of both teams which was not going to loose in any component of the game. And once rosso-neri broke out new Juve's thrust and went forward with big forces while the ball was hold by it's defenders in the centre of the field. But start of attack of the favourite team of ukrainian mass-media was hampered very much with the circumstance that almost all players of Old Signora already had come back to own part of the field. Only DiVaio lazily hobbled behind becks of Milan's defenders from off-side, and DelPiero stayed on the same level with them on the right edge. Two more players in white-and-black jersey stayed before them in the central circle cluttering to made a straight cross. Therefore, not seeing another start of the future genious combination (listening for a while to reporters of ukrainian national TV and radio you'll soon realize that "Milan" has no others by definition), defender of Ancelotti's team decided to do cross precisely of the kind. And targeted Juve's player (it seems that it was Tacchinardi)! Confused with such present and not knowing what to do with it he hurried to get rid of the one by giving it to his neighbour, who luckily appeared to be Nedved. Chech midfield immediately reckoned the situation and cast DelPiero by the flank. DiVaio was in sure off-side, but referee did not fixed it because the cross was not for him. DelPiero rushed to Milan's goal (he had enough powers - the match had only began), cutting the angle and escaping from defender who was chasing him. DiVaio meanwhile moved from the centre to left, Abbiati went forward to decrease the angle to shoot and the only defender was running between Alex and Marco. Entering the penalty zone Penturicchio sent the ball between defender and goalkeeper along the goal and DiVaio had only to touch the ball. For the next 10 minutes "Milan" had been sitting on Old Signora's part of the field but a corner was the most useful that he got. After it's realisation the ball was sent off the penalty box but Pirlo appeared first near it. Andrea was ready to shoot but Camoranesi in gutsy grab sneaked the ball ans passed it to central circle to DelPiero, and he rushed forward. The trick was that after the corner only two milan's players stayed on their part of the field and now also two Juve's players were running to their goal - DiVaio (from left) and DelPiero (in centre). So, all this pageant, in which already ALMOST nobody more was able to take part, approached penalty ground of rosso-neri. DelPiero had a choice - to try to break through by himself or to give the ball to DiVaio. Penturicchio did the third thing - he crossed to Thuramó who had run by the right wing, Lillian under the angle entered the box and pushed the ball under Abbiati who had left the goal - 2:0! Splendid! "Milanó" scored once at the end of the half when in Juve's penalty zone the ball hit Birindelli's hand, and Pirlo realized the kick... Nothing interesting else happened in the first time. So in the second if not the moment when Shevchenko who came on the shift (he had not been playing for some time because of injure) brutally attacked Buffon. Eventually, the match ended with victory of "Juventus", who showed that it is possible not only to play against "Milan" but also to defeat it.

4. Juventus FC - Bologna FC 2:2. 28th lap of serie A.
Of course, hardly this game would be here but it's perfect end! Before 10 minutes till the end of the match Old Signora was loosing 0:2, having missed a ball in every time. Well, in case of defeat it would not be tragedy because "Inter" also had lost it's match to "Milan", but it was possible to encrease the distance from the competitor! Unfortunately, "Bologna" had it's own opinion on this case. It seemed that defeat is cock-sure - all Juve's attacks were breaking with splendid in that match defence of the team of Francesco Guidolin. But it was powerless against strokes of fate. On about 85th minute Juve bowled the corner and without success again - players of "Bologna" appeared more strong in the air having sent the ball off their penalty box. But outside it was caught by Zambrotta who shooted with great power in the goals' direction. Not to the goal, but exactly only in that direction - it is unknown, where the ball would be if not ricochet, - but in reason of that ricochet the ball appeared in the goal of cheated Pagliuca. A couple of minutes were till the final whistle and "Juventus" closed the owners of "ÐRinato DelAra" in their penalty ground. Players from Bologna resisted frantically and, as before, quite literary. And here, they break off the last Juve's attack (it seemed that it was not enough time for any more) and went to their counter-attack. Right-wing player of "Bologna" rushed with the ball from his goal, his partners in noble burst of motions also rushed forward, but then were forced even more faster to come back - Zambrotta perfectly sneaked the ball from his opponent and ran to Pagliuca's goal. Cross... Little Camoranesi, who appeared on the field in the second time, overjumping the high rival who was the only near Mauro (all others missed to come back fast enough), sent the ball to the left from goalkeeper high corner of the goal! A hill of Juve's players appeared near the corner banner - the match was saved! Unthinkable end of the match! Of course, Camoranesi saved his team, but I'd like to admit Zambrotta, because he not only scored the first ball but also created the second on a half, having stolen the ball from a rival purely and having perfectly assisted Camoranesi. Francesco Gvidolin was too angry after the match. "In case of victory we could pretend on the place in UEFA Cup, and now we'll have to struggle for the one in Serie A..." - complained head coach of "Bologna".

5. Juventus FC - AC Chievo Verona 4:3. 34th lap of serie A.
This match must be admitted because "Chievo" was defeated by Juve's second squad, when "Juventus" already had become a champion and flying donkeys needed victory or a draw as the air to play next season in UEFA Cup. But thet failed. They fought fiercely but appeared weaker than Old Signora's alternates. After Trezeguet's and Zalayeta's goals in the beginning of the second time Juve was leading 3:1, and then two exact shoots of Bierhoff, who was playing last match in his career, returned the hope to "Chievo". But this hope was killed by Cristian Zennoni. One of the best assistants of this season - Zambrotta - with exact pass from the left wing cut all defence of "Chievo" and Zennoni, breaking in the penalty ground from the right by diagonal, caught the ball and cheating goalkeeper sent the ball near the left stroke to the empty goal. Undoubtfully, this match gave real pleasure to football fans - rare game brings seven goals and has so dramatic plot. As for me, it was twice more pleasure to watch it because it did not mean something and thus it's result was unimportant.

Worst

1. Brescia Calcio - Juventus FC 2:0. 13th lap of serie A.
The 13th lap indeed appeared unlucky for "Juventus" - the club from Turin suffered the first defeat in this championship. Unexpectedly this mishap happened in Brescia, in the game with not the strenghtest enemy. I think that bianco-neri by themselves unseriously had accepted this match and thus lost. They almost had no opportunities to score and those rare which were created then were missed. From other side, the team of Carlo Mazzone did not failed to use it's chances. Also we must admit that this defeat broke the undefeatable serie of italian champion in Serie A, which had started in previous season and had been continuing for 18 matches.

2. Juventus FC - Mancester United 0:3. 4th match of League Champions Second Group tournament.
The worst match of euroseason - not with game's quality, as the previous one, but exactly with result. It was unthinkable to loose with such score to Manchester, which still is not scourged yet for the semifinal of 99! Although Old Signora did not deserved such score as to the game but a number of bad mistakes made their evel deeds. Bianco-neri started in active stile having closed englishmen in their part of the field. But after one of the numerous corners red devils organized counter-attack, in result of it Veron appeared in the left edge of Juve's penalty ground. Zambrotta, who was chasing him (Gianluka domesticated then position of the left defender), in perfect style deprived Juan Sebastian of the ball and... treading on it, he fell. Veron immediately catched the ball and crossed to goalkeeper's zone where Giggs appeared the most fast. And Ryan's shoots are impossible to pull out from such distance, even for Buffon. Juve rushed to attacks with doubled power. Ferrara kicked near the right stake after corner, and Trezeguet targeted the bar after the assisst from the right wing. Manchester made dangerous counter-attacks and one of them again ended with the goal - the same Giggs from about 15-20 meters sent the ball to the right lowest corner. The trick was that bianco-neri by themselves summoned upon them fate's rage in face of Giggs when on the first minutes of the game had injured Diego Forlan who was shifted with Ryan. At once after the break Lippi cast Salas on the field, and chilean forward juiced up the game with creating a row of dangerous moment which, unfortunatelly, were not realized. In the contrary, bianco-neri again made the ball to appear in their own goal. Red devils crossed to Juve's penalty zone in stabsent-minded manner, the ball overflew all english players and was lazily grounding to the right corner of goalkeeper's zone from where, undoubtfully, it would jump out of the field. Tudor, wishing not to loose a time which should be spend to return the bal to the game, decided to pass the ball with his to Buffon but instead of that sent it between goalkeeper and bar. Buffon in a jump tried to catch the ball but it precisely targeted the goalpost from where bowled along line of the goal. And van Nistelroy could not decline such present - 0:3, and all illusions disappeared. Juve continued to attack till the end of the match tying to score the ball of prestige but did not.
I admit once more that not bad quality of the game was demonstrated but terrible mistakes in defence has lead to crash.

Serie A Matches

Final table of Serie A

Scorers

Champions League Matches

First Group Tournament

Feyenoord - Juventus FC 1:1 (Camoranesi'?).
Juventus FC - FC Dynamo Kyiv 5:0 (DiVaio'?'?, DelPiero'?, Nedved'?, Davids'?).
Juventus FC - Newcastle United 2:0 (DelPiero'?'?).
Newcastle United - Juventus FC 1:0 .
Juventus FC - Feyenoord 2:0 (DiVaio'?'?).
FC Dynamo Kyiv - Juventus FC 1:2 (Salas'53, Zalayeta'61)

Second Group Tournament

Deportivo - Juventus FC 2:2 (Birindelli'34, Nedved'52).
Juventus FC - Basel 4:0 (?).
Mancester United - Juventus FC 2:1 (Nedved'90).
Juventus FC - Mancester United 0:3 .
Juventus FC - Deportivo 3:2 (Ferrara'12, Trezeguet'65, Tudor'93).
Basel - Juventus FC 2:1 (?).

Quarterfinal

Juventus FC - Barcelona 1:1 (Montero'16).
Barcelona - Juventus FC 1:1 (0:1) (Nedved'56, Zalayeta'114).

Semifinal

Real Madrid CF - Juventus FC 2:1 (Trezeguet'45).
Juventus FC - Real Madrid CF 3:1 (Trezeguet'12, DelPiero'43, Nedved'73).

Final

Juventus FC - AC Milan 0:0 (p.2:3)
(P: Trezeguet (g.), Birindelli, Zalayeta (g.), Montero (g.), DelPiero).

Goals

Most Important

In this season, in difference with previous, "Juventus" has won scudetto boldly, having got his advantage of points during all championship and having not catching the valuable points in a hurry in last matches, and on the reason I think that there is no necessity to admit some goals in Serie A. But it was a great couple of important goals in Champions League - in every stage! And each of those goals was giving Juve the right to play in the next leg!

1. Barcelona - Juventus FC 1:2. Zalayeta'114 Second match of Champions League quarterfinal.
The ball which made Old Signora pass through catalan club and to appear in semifinal. The ball, which was scored in additional time when Juve had for one player less than Barcelona. This ball finished classic counter-attack in which only three men were taking part and two of them passed all enemy's part of the field! So, it was second additional time, "Barcelona" was hanging on Buffon's goal, and Juve was fiercely fighting back with nine players. Somebody of them kicked the ball as far as he could from his penalty ground, the ball hit another bianco-neri (as far as I remember, it was Nedved, but I can be mistaken), who quickly sent it to central circle to Zalayeta. Forward, having covered the ball with his torso, waited a little, while Birindelli was increasing his speed in the right wing, sent the ball to him, and by himself rushed forward. Sandro, having outstripped rival who was chasing him, reached by the edge of the field the level where penalty ground begins, crossed to goalkeeper's zone, where Zalayeta appeared more artful than goalkeeper of Barsa Bonano, and than two defenders who tried to hamper him, moved his leg and... Go-o-o-o-al! It is victory, catalans will not be able to score two goals for 6 minutes which are left till the end of the match because they could not score a single for 35 minutes which they had been playing being in majority. "Juventus" is in semifinal, again after 1999!

2. Juventus FC - Deportivo 3:2. Tudor'93. 5th match of Champions League Second Group tournament.
The ball which pushed Old Signora into quarterfinal. It seems that this goal must be valued higher than the one of Zalayeta - if Tudor did not scored and "Juventus" would not play in "Camp Now". But this conclusion is not quite right - in case of draw with "Deportivo" the fate of quarterfinal should be resolved in last lap of group tournament. And there were different variants in that case... But Juve resolved all in mutual struggle with the straight competitor! Additional time was going, and it seemed that rivals had agreed on a draw, having decided to adjourn the finding of guarterfinal's question till the last lap. But it was wrong impression, each of the rivals understood that he could get the main prize rigth now. And Depor went into last attack, which by bianco-neri was beaten back with God's helpand they also, in their turn, rushed into counter-attack. The ball was sent to right wing to Zalayeta (who appeared on the field in the middle of the second half to strenghten the attack but with his pathetic performance he only strenghtened the distaste to himself from the side of Juve's fans and deserved from TV-reporter nickname "ballast "), who, having not thought a lot, crossed the ball to spainish penalty zone. There leather sphere hit either Trezeguet or defenders which were opposing him, and bounced behind the edge of penalty ground, wher Nedved was precisely staying. Chech midfield was going to kick the ball, but caught a sight that Tudor was running to it on crazy speed. Having rightfully concluded that it was dangerous for the health to stay on the way of two-meter giant, who had accelerated not for a joke, Pavel slipped out of his way. And Tudor shooted with great power and sent the ball to the right from Juainmi lower corner of the goal, and made his team to pass into the next leg of Champions League.

3,4. Juventus FC - Real Madrid CF 3:1. Trezeguet'12, Nedved'73. Second match of Champions League semifinal.
Juve scored three balls in that semifinal match but I would like to admith exactly these two. The first one of Trezeguet is important with the fact that made the score which was satisfactory to Old Signora - now there was no necessity to rush forward in attacks, the possibility to rest and to catch spainish team on counter-attacks appeared. This goal made a strategic initiative to come on Juve's side. Nedved in the right wing overrided Helguera on the speedand crossed to the farsest side of penalty ground. There not high DelPiero, having overjumped Salgado, did not allow the ball to left the field and with his head sent it to goalkeeper's zone. There Trezeguet for moment outstripped Cambiasso and from the flight kicked the nearest corner, between the bar and Casillias. Then it was the goal of DelPiero, beautiful in performance, but which only increased the advantage of italian championship in quantity but little changed in quality (already almost at the end of the first half DelPiero with one move cheated both Hierro and Salgado and kicked the same right from Casillias corner). But the third goal of Nedved finally buried overadvertised "undefeatable" "Real". According to that game it was not clear how spainish champion was going to score twice. (Somebody will say that they could, but if could why they did not? Because they could not! You'll nothing to do with logic! :) ) After all, it was the goal, oficially recognized UEFA (to be exact, by fans who voted in uefa.com) to be the best in Champions League 2002/2003. From own part of the field, having not reached the central line a little, Zambrotta cast the ball on the move to Pavel Nedvedó and he, having rushed to the goal of Casillias, escaped from Hierro, who was trying to catch Pavel by t-short with his evel arms, from about the edge of the penalty zone without prepearing with his gun's shoot targeted the rigth from the goalkeeper corner!

Catastrophic

Are absent. In Serie A "Juventus" was going ahead with good supply of points and in the Leage Lippi was wiser than his rivals from strategic point of view, and thus we have no goals which could lead to catastrophe. Of course, it would be possible to call the one Shevchenko's after match penalty in final of the League but, as for me, it does not deserve this appellative because it was after match penalty, a lottery, duel of kicker and goalkeeper. And there is neither gilty of one team nor merit of other - such are the rules.

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

"Juventus" squad in season 2002/2003 (photo was made before second Champions League semi-final against "Real" in Turin) From left to right: Upper row: Tudor, Zambrotta, Thuram, Tacchinardi, Buffon, Montero Bottom row: Birindelli, Davids, Nedved, DelPiero, Trezeguet

sponsors

Technical	Official in Serie A	Official in Champions League

Conclusions

Mark: 10 (from 15)

Realisation of opportunities: 67%.

Perfect season! As to my mind, the best from 1997. Of course, Champions League final is lost, but, in difference with 1997 and 1998 years, it was lost with dignity. Also, the reason of the defeat is clear - Nedved was absent! But even without his leader "Juventus" was not worser than "Milan", which played with the best squad then, and the defeat in penalty kicks in any case is not flagrant, alsough, may be, more aggrieved. But how "Real" was smashed! After final of 1998 year with hearing the word "Real" I wanted to smother somebody, but after semifinals of 2003 I'm just pleasantly smiling!

For my great regret, at the end I have to come back to my beloved ukrainian journalists and my beloved "Milan". Thanks God, Shevchenko has nothing to do with it. But another former player of Dynamo Kyiv - Kakha Kaladze - has. On one of the ukrainian TV-channels I blundered on interview with georgean defender, and he meanwhile said that "Milan deserved to win Champions Cup having demonstrated effective and powerful play during the final important matches". Well, I really do not know either georgian player really has said this or it's the new tailes of ukrainian journalists. I have never heard a biggest nonsense in all my life. No, I do not want to say that Milan did not deserve to win Champions Cup or has won it in unfair way. But why to cheat others? Who the thunder has seen in play-off matches Milan's "effective and powerful play"? The match in "San Sirro" against "Ajax", in which luck was on italians' side is exception, but even if to account it, in play-off "Milan" scored 4(!) goals, from 5 matches rosso-neri won one (!), and from the rest four draws the three were 0:0! If this "effective and powerful play"? Confound it...