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Pirlo: "We deserve this Scudetto"

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Pirlo: "We deserve this Scudetto"
Pirlo: "We deserve this Scudetto"
Pirlo: "We deserve this Scudetto"

You soon get used to being at the centre of attention when you turn in world-class performances week in week out. But Andrea Pirlo has been in the spotlight even more than usual since his autobiography 'Penso quindi gioco' (I think therefore I play) came out.

Penned with the help of Sky Italia journalist Alessandro Alciato, the book was presented to the media today at Royal Park I Roveri Golf Club in Fiano. Team-mates Gigi Buffon and Alessandro Matri were among those taking their places in the audience.

Pirlo spoke to newspaper journalists at the event, covering a range of topics. From the Scudetto that Juventus are now within a whisker of reclaiming, to the Champions League, his relationship with Antonio Conte, playing for Italy and more besides.

With Conte's Juve looking to celebrate another Scudetto by bagging the last point they need when they host Palermo on Sunday, Pirlo explained what it is that has kept the Bianconeri out in front of the pack for two years running.

"We've been the most consistent team. Last year the title was unthinkable at the start of the season and what we did was an extraordinary achievement. This year we set out with the aim of repeating that success and we've shown that we're a notch above the rest. We'll wait until we've got this last point sewn up, hopefully this Sunday, but we deserve to win the Scudetto again."

The Champions League was another subject on the agenda, the day after Bayern Munich swept Barcelona aside at the Camp Nou to set up an all-German final against Borussia Dortmund.

Of Juve's own European campaign, Pirlo had this to say: "We had lots of players making their first appearance in the competition. We improved a lot by playing together and managed to exceed our own expectations in Europe. We came up against an exceptionally strong Bayern team - I haven't seen a side that good for years.

"Hats off to them but we'll give it another shot next year. A club like Juventus must always aim for the top and the Champions League is the very top. I'd like to experience that feeling you get when you win it one more time before I retire."

The Italy midfielder reserved high praise for Antonio Conte's work in his autobiography and he was happy to make the same point again. The playmaker and the coach have got on like a house on fire since day one.

"I was surprised by the gaffer's tactical acumen but also what he does on a daily basis. I must admit that I've started paying more attention to what coaches say as I've matured, and if I were to go down that path myself in the future I'd like to take on board some of the things I've learnt from him. I've got plenty of time to think about that though: for the moment I'm quite happy playing!"

The Confederations Cup is now on the horizon and the World Cup just over a year away, so the national team is naturally another hot topic. And Pirlo had an important announcement to make.

"I think Brazil 2014 will be my last tournament with Italy, then it will be time for me to step aside and let some of the youngsters take over. I've had a lot from the national side, I was lucky enough to win the World Cup and when that happens you find everyone adores you, even fans of other teams."

Pirlo ended by speaking about what made him decide to pen an autobiography.

"For a while lots of people had been asking me to write a book and I kept putting it off. After the Euros last summer we finally got round to doing it. I like the title, 'I think therefore I play'. It reflects my playing style, which is all about using your head. The things I wrote? I wrote what I thought but there's nothing too outrageous or controversial in there."

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