By Anna Italia
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Here are the declarations of Juventus Captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon after qualifying to the 2014-2015 UEFA Champions League Semifinal.     Buffon played the last semifinal back in 2003 and waited 12 years to see his great Juventus back to where it belongs.

Buffon saying, “I didn’t think it would take 12 years to reach the semi-final again!” he began. “It’s been a long and difficult path, but we know we’ve achieved nothing yet.

“We wanted to go through at all costs. We knew we had an excellent opportunity to honour this club’s history by achieving a big result like this.

“There was more tension in the air tonight than at Dortmund. It was tough because we held only the slenderest of advantages and we knew that any mistake would prove twice as costly. Fortunately we managed it in the end.”

Source: juventus.com

Leonardo Bonucci says that Juve must keep raising the bar as they prepare for a tantalising semi-final encounter against one of the best teams in Europe, insisting they must not simply settle for coming this far.

The Bianconeri came through a tough night at the Stade Louis II but dug deep to draw with Monaco and seal a Champions League semi-final berth.

After match, Bonucci told journalists: “Obviously the biggest positive tonight is that we’re into the semi-finals but we mustn’t think that’s it now. We have to believe in ourselves and keep dreaming. We could have done better tonight but we can’t rule anything out. We just have to show more belief.”

The defender was frank enough to admit that Juve came up short in certain areas this evening.

“We lacked a bit of courage and confidence today. Technically we made lots of mistakes and we had a bit of luck go our way. It wasn’t easy to play against Monaco though. They have some excellent individuals and are superb defensively.

“We knew that once we reached the quarter-finals it was all down to us. Now we have to tackle the semi-final head on. This is where it starts to get interesting and we have to keep dreaming.”

There are of course no weak sides at the semi-final stage. Leo went on: “Obviously there are three top teams in the semis but Juve are capable of matching them.

“Bayern went and crushed Porto after losing the first leg. They’re a magnificent side but they haven’t become that overnight.

“Then of course Barcelona and Real Madrid are two of the biggest sides in European football as well. Whoever we get, we’ll make sure we’re totally focused on the task and put on our best display.”

Source:  juventus.com

By Anna Italia
Follow me in Twitter @ItalianSerieA,
Facebook: Anna Italia Page

It’s an important victory not only for Juventus, but also for Italian football.    Juventus qualifying to the UEFA Champions League Semifinal after 12 years since 2003.   The aggregate result of  Juventus 1 – 0 Monaco.  The second leg at the Stade Louis II ending with a 0-0.

Here are the declarations by Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri  after the 0-0 at the Stade Louis II: “It’s a great result and we’ve managed it thanks to a fantastic group of players but it’s not over yet.

“Now we must try to bag the points needed to wrap up the Scudetto as quickly as possible, then we can test our mettle against the best sides in Europe. It won’t be easy but it’s sure to be exciting.

“I really must congratulate the lads for the way they played and the maturity they showed tonight. You always have to adapt to the match and your opponents and remember that they set out to make it as hard as possible for you to play your game. It happened against Monaco and it happened before then against Atletico Madrid.”

So the low-key display had nothing to do with stage fright then? “No, it’s just that our opponents defended deep and very well and we weren’t able to bring the ball out of defence.

“We played well technically but the game went the way it was always likely to go considering how Monaco play and our own qualities. We needed to reach the semi-finals, even if it meant playing a match that wasn’t all that enjoyable.”

On who Juventus will face in the Semifinal, Allegri saying,  “We’ll be able to play our game more and that’s to our advantage. We have to believe we can get into the final.”

Source:  juventus.com

Juventus CEO Giuseppe Marotta has praised the achievements of both the club and Massimiliano Allegri after the Bianconeri made a long-awaited return to the Champions League semi-finals, but stressed there is plenty of scope for continued improvement.

Speaking to Sky Italia after Monaco v Juventus, Marotta began: “It was tough tonight and I think the club deserves credit. I don’t know exactly how much of an influence a coach can have but we’ve created the conditions for Allegri to do well and he is doing extremely well.

“Tonight’s match is confirmation of just how far we’ve come. It might not have been pretty to watch but what mattered was going through. And this squad can get a whole lot better yet.

“We’ve improved year on year and we’ll strengthen further in the coming transfer window. The club is solid and we want to be competing on the European stage at a level that is befitting of Juventus’ history.”

Marotta then ran the rule over the other clubs in Friday’s semi-final draw and discussed Juve’s chances.

“There are three powerhouses in there with us but we’ll give it our best shot, aware of the fact that they are on a different technical and financial level to us. We’re fourth favourites in that sense but you never know.

“We have to see Scudetto and the Coppa Italia as our real targets. In the Champions League we must be realistic and recognise that there are different values in play, but with a spot of luck who knows.”

Marotta was also asked if Paul Pogba might be fit in time for the semi-final and here he offered a hint of optimism.

“The doctors say he’ll be ready in around three weeks but he’s young and may be able to recover more quickly than other players.”

Source:  juventus.com