Juve's captain Alessandro Del Piero answered questions from fans on Juventus Channel today.
- As regards the current season, Del Piero regrets the fact that he was injured for too long. The captain said : "Unfortunately, I missed the first three months of this season due to injury. Something like that slows down your energy level and prevents you from performing to the best of your ability afterwards".
- On the short-term objectives, the 35-year-old stated : "Juve must clinch at least the fourth place position to eventually earn a spot in next season's Champions League. That is the only goal left for us now and we believe that we can achieve it".
- Concerning his future : "I would like to keep playing at the highest level as long as I am mentally motivated and physically fit. I am looking forward to next season and I am ready for it. Hopefully Juve will win something then".
- In regard to this summer's FIFA World Cup, many Juve fans would like their captain to participate in it (although he's been out of the national team picture since September 2008). On the subject, Del Piero stated : "I hope to return to the Italian NT. But, any player earns a call if he does consistently well with his club during the season. At present, I am focused on doing the best I can with Juventus, the rest is up to Italy head coach Marcello Lippi. .... The World Cup is never easy to win, but Italy has the potential to do very well".
- When asked about the 2006 "Calciopoli" sentence, Del Piero said : "I am proud to have played for Juve even when we were sent to Serie B, but it also hurt to being kicked out of Serie A and having two Serie A titles stripped away. .... The latest developments on the ongoing inquiry are interesting as it seems that the 2006 sentence was unfair and could have been quite different than what it was. .... I hope that a part of the sentence will be overturned so that Juve can have those two Serie A titles back - we were unfairly penalized. We earned those titles with honesty and hard work".
- In closing, Del Piero commented on his coach Alberto Zaccheroni saying : "He impressed me and my team mates since day one. Zaccheroni is a special person and a great coach. He loves his job and it shows. .... I do not know if he will remain for next season, I do not decide on these things. .... The team is just thinking on the remainder of the season now".
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