7 January 2008

Chiellini: «We always aim for the top»

Sunshine as if it was spring (in Italy); the warm and friendly Malta people; an eagerness to start again after an excellent first part of the season: with these ingredients added to the mix, Juventus are working hard at their winter camp, to be ready when the League begins again.

Sounding the charge, one of the best players of the year that has just ended: Giorgio Chiellini. Playing wide or in the middle, the Livorno-born defender has been a motivating force in the team and he throws the gauntlet, speaking the words of a true leader. «We came to Malta to begin the second part of the season in the best possible way. We found a lot of enthusiasm here and this allows us to work even better».

Training is intense and the temperature is higher than the players were used to in Vinovo, but the aim is to be on top form already Saturday against Catania. «We're all eager to start again – Chiellini continued -, we want to start off in the same way we did last year.
We're doing very well in the League; we have a point average of over two points per game. How would I rate us? I'd say somewhere between 7 and 8 out of 10, but we're working to earn a 10. We're pleased with what we've done but we also want to improve».

The defender, just like Manager Ranieri and Buffon, who spoke in the last few days, has the season's objective very clear in his mind: «We always aim for the top. We're fighting for second place, but also for first, knowing fully well that our opponents have been working together longer as teams. If at the end they'll have proven to be stronger than us, then we'll congratulate them».