Juventus stopper Nicola Legrottaglie has hailed Alessandro Del Piero as the main man behind the Old Lady’s superb season.

The Bianconeri can legitimately set their sights on second place after pulling within a single point of Roma after defeating the Giallorossi last weekend.

Del Piero was the difference between the two sides in Turin and former Chievo man Legrottaglie believes that Juve’s captain is an inspirational force.

“He is an example for us,” Legrottaglie explained. “He’s an exceptional man on and off the pitch.

“I arrived here five years ago and I had a certain impression of him, but now I am seeing the man that I admired many years ago.”

Legrottaglie is enjoying a renaissance in Turin and it is now easy to forget that he was close to leaving Juve in the summer.

“I came into this season after three tough years of injuries, mistrust and misunderstandings,” he recalled.

“The nice thing now is that I’m playing at the level that allowed me to reach the national team and I am a regular for Juve.

“As a team we are going for second place, but we must keep looking over our shoulders. There’s a big difference between finishing second and third – a different training camp, longer holidays and bigger ambitions.”

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/feb20j.html

Legro speaks really well. He is an example to footballers in a different way, the way he came back from ridicule to La Nazionale, he has been great this season.

Alex will always be an important figure at Juventus, for many decades into the future even when he stops playing, the new Boniperti.

It is also worth considering the contributions of our other experienced players this year - Buffon, Nedved and Trezeguet.

forza il capitano