Juve’s Del Piero reveals recovery plan

(GSM) – Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero has revealed that the players have requested for an extra day’s preparation as they look to put their “devastating” week behind them.

The veteran forward has endured a disappointing week with the Bianconeri’s as they crashed out of the Europa League following a 4-1 defeat at Fulham.

The devastating result at Craven Cottage was shortly after their draw against Siena where they let slip a three-goal advantage.

But the situation has worsened after their defeat on Sunday night when Sampdoria’s Antonio Cassano scored the only goal of the game in the 77th minute with a stunning 35-yard strike .

After an improved run with Alberto Zaccheroni, who replaced the sacked Ciro Ferrara in January, the Turin giants are enduring difficult times again.

And their first attempt to put things right, is to go on a training camp a day earlier ahead of Thursday’s trip to Napoli.

“We asked to go to training camp so we could spend a bit of time together, to rediscover our physical and mental energies,” said Del Piero. “It was a devastating week, from the game against Siena to the exit from the cup, to Cassano’s great goal in an evening where we were equal to each other until that time.

“We took a harsh blow. There are still nine games left and we can’t make any more mistakes. It’s a pity, with Zac we were recovering, in seven days we have ruined a month and a half of work.”

The defeat saw Samp leapfrog Juve in the standings, leaving the Bianconeri in sixth place, two points behind fourth-placed Palermo. And Zaccheroni admits he will consider himself a failure if Juve fail to qualify for the Champions League.

“If we don’t succeed in getting to fourth place that means that I have failed in my mission,” he said. “This is a squad which has to rediscover its strengths. I think we are still on course for fourth place.

“Inside the dressing room there is no desire to finish a season by failing, instead their is desire to redeem themselves. Certainly, right up until the end, we will never give up: both me and the squad see it as a challenge to win.”