Del Piero counters Ferrara’s verbal attack

(GSM) – Juventus legend Allessandro Del Piero has hit back at Ciro Ferrara, his former teammate and coach who criticised him in an interview last month.

Ferrara told La Gazzetta dello Sport that he thought Del Piero could cause problems in the dressing room because he always wanted to play.

He also called the players ‘donkeys’ after they failed to improve their performances under Ferrara’s successor Alberto Zaccheroni.

“I believe that that interview was done at a particularly emotional moment,” Del Piero said.

“I am not saying that to justify Ferrara’s comments, but I believe it was like that. Certainly none of us at Juventus feel like donkeys.”

When asked if he did want to play all the time, the veteran forward said: “The problem is if a player doesn’t want to play.

“A player must do everything – obviously only on the pitch – to be a starter. But I never asked anyone to start regularly. I only asked to be looked at without prejudice and that I be treated equal with the others. It’s my way of thinking and of seeing the situation.

“If a player deserves to play, whether he be 18 or 36, he should play, because the best players should be on the pitch. The fundamental thing is that the team wins. I have always behaved correctly in the dressing room. For my part, there has always been maximum openness and the utmost desire to do well.”

Del Piero then turned his attention to the season ahead.

“We don’t have particular objectives,” he said. “The only objective is to get to the end of the season proud of what we have done.

“We must concentrate on getting back to being Juve. In my opinion, this has to be the focal point of our season.”