David Trezeguet, the legendary former striker of Juventus, recently opened up about the current state of affairs within the club, touching on aspects from the pressures facing star player Dusan Vlahovic to the enduring rivalry with Inter Milan. Speaking during an interview with Fanpage, Trezeguet, now serving as the club's ambassador, offered candid insights rooted deeply in his extensive experience at Juventus.
With the Supercoppa approaching, Trezeguet remarked on the necessity for the team to shake off the struggles faced during the first half of the season, dominated by draws and uncertainty. "Alla Juventus è necessario trasmettere la determinazione per vincere, tutto il resto ha poca importanza altrimenti ti faranno andare via. Questa è la lezione che ho imparato da Agnelli, Moggi, Giraudo e Bettega. La Juventus aveva ritrovato stabilità nelle vittorie e ora è in una fase in cui i tifosi si aspettano che tu vinca," (At Juventus it is necessary to convey the determination to win; everything else is of little importance, otherwise they will send you away. This is the lesson I learned from Agnelli, Moggi, Giraudo and Bettega. Juventus had regained stability in victories and is now at a stage where fans expect you to win) stated Trezeguet, emphasizing the high expectations placed on the players.
Trezeguet’s commentary shifted focus to Vlahovic, who has recently been under scrutiny. He mentioned the importance of players internalizing the winning mentality pervasive at Juventus. The former star's words resonate with the club's historical ethos: victory is non-negotiable. He stresses, "Alla Juve bisogna trasmettere la fame di vincere, il resto conta poco altrimenti ti mandano via," (At Juve you need to convey the hunger to win; the rest matters little otherwise they will send you away). This sentiment sheds light on the pressures Vlahovic faces, particularly as he has drawn criticism from fans when performances have faltered.
Nevertheless, Trezeguet's critique wasn’t limited to the current roster. He also reignited the heated rivalry with Inter, particularly surrounding the infamous Scudetto of 2006. His remarks were pointed: "Il campionato del 2006 è stato vinto sul campo dalla Juve con una dimostrazione di forza superiore all’Inter. Questo Scudetto che mostra l’Inter oggi è un qualcosa di folcloristico" (The championship of 2006 was won on the field by Juve with a show of strength superior to Inter. This Scudetto displayed by Inter today is something folkloristic). Trezeguet's assertions reflect not only his loyalty to Juventus but also the bitterness many fans feel over Calciopoli and its long-lasting ramifications.
The former forward continued by highlighting the absurdity of Inter's claim to the Scudetto, asserting, "Credo che tanti giocatori dell’Inter sapessero che la Juventus fosse superiore e meritasse di vincere quel campionato. Tutto il resto è solo folclore" (I believe many players at Inter knew Juventus was superior and deserved to win the championship. Everything else is just folklore). This fight for recognition and superiority has defined their rivalry and remains a focal point of passion for both sets of supporters.
But beyond the ghosts of the past, Trezeguet aimed for forward-thinking as well. Reflecting on Juventus’ present situation, he remarked, "Non si è vista ancora la vera squadra, i conti si fanno alla fine" (We still haven’t seen the real team; the accounts are made at the end). He acknowledged difficulties but insisted assertively on the necessity for improvement across all competitions, particularly emphasizing the need to gather points quickly as the Champions League moves forward.
The return of veteran Giorgio Chiellini to the club was met with optimism, as Trezeguet spoke candidly about the significance of such leadership within the ranks. He expressed hope for Chiellini's role to be substantial, emphasizing the collective need to instill winning culture and mentality throughout the squad.
Conclusively, Trezeguet's words echo the relentless drive for excellence entrenched within Juventus’ fabric, urging current players to absorb the lessons of their predecessors. For Trezeguet, as he has learned firsthand, the only way forward at Juventus is through winning, underlining the fierce desire of the club’s fanbase for triumph above all else.