Juventus face mission impossible, says Deschamps 16-Jul-2006
*ROME (AFP)* - New Juventus coach Didier Deschamps admitted that it was
practically impossible for the Italian giants to regain their Serie A place
at the first attempt following their match-fixing demotion.
Juventus were relegated and docked 30 points from their total for next
season as punishment for being caught up in the scandal which rocked the
country's national sport.
Juve were stripped of their last two league titles, while Fiorentina and
Lazio were also demoted to Serie B for their part in the affair.
"It is difficult to get to the first division in just one year," said
Deschamps who has taken over from Fabio Capello.
"With 30 points deducted, it's practically impossible."
Juventus new president Giovanni Cobolli Gilli promised fans that the clubs
relegation will not necessarily lead to the departure of all the team's star
names.
"I hope that some of our important players will stay," he said.
"Obviously lots of them will find it hard to stay with us in Serie B with 30
points deducted, but the clubs that are interested will have to pay full
rate."
Former Juve manager Capello, now in charge at Real Madrid, has already been
linked with moves for the club's World Cup winners Gianluigi Buffon, Fabio
Cannavaro and Gianluca Zambrotta.
But Gilli is determined not to sell on the cheap and said: "Should Real
Madrid want our players, they will have to pay.
"That also applies to other teams who may be interested in our players,
because we have the duty to defend the club's heritage."
Meanwhile, AC Milan, who were allowed to remain in Serie A but banned from
playing in the Champions League, are optimistic that they could still play
in Europe next season.
Livorno, Parma and Empoli will be entered into the UEFA Cup but Milan
believe Empoli are ineligible to play.
"At present Empoli are not licensed by UEFA and would not be able to take
part in the UEFA Cup," said a statement on the AC Milan website.
"The possibility could open up for Milan in take part in the 2006-07 UEFA
Cup."
Empoli President Fabrizio Corso is adamant his team should take the UEFA Cup
spot, but Milan's lawyer Leandro Cantamessa hinted the Rossoneri may take
legal action to ensure they are allowed to enter.
Cantamessa believes the decision to reduce Milan's 2005-06 final points
total by 44 points - leaving them one point outside a UEFA Cup place - has
no justification.
He said: "There are lots of reasons to challenge this contradictory verdict.
I read the whole verdict and there's no explanation for all the points that
have been deducted."
Meanwhile, across the city, rivals Inter Milan insisted they should now be
awarded last season's Serie A title because they finished third, behind
Juventus and Milan.
Inter manager Roberto Mancini said: "It is right not to award the title from
two years ago to anyone, but last seasons should go to Inter.
"If one side wins by cheating, its fair to award the trophy to the team that
came behind them playing fairly."
It is thought the title will be declared void and will not be awarded to any
team.
*Source(text): AFP* *Source(images): Reuters*
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
Great things are happening at Yahoo! Groups. See the new email design.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/TISQkA/hOaOAA/yQLSAA/2_TolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
HAPUS BAGIAN EMAIL YG TIDAK PERLU SEBELUM ME-REPLY.
==========================================================
Milis Tabloid BOLA
Untuk KELUAR DARI MILIS INI. Kirim Mail kosong (tanpa subject) ke alamat [EMAIL
PROTECTED]
==========================================================
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bolaml/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
