Italy coach Marcello Lippi has categorically denied reports he will return to former club Juventus once the 2010 World Cup is over.
Juventus are in the midst of a difficult run of form having lost five of their past six games in all competitions and speculation is inevitably surrounding the position of coach Ciro Ferrara.
Lippi, who remains a popular figure in Turin, is expected to step down from his post with the Azzurri after the World Cup and some pundits have believed that he would then re-join the Bianconeri either as a coach or as a technical director.
"I will not return to Juventus neither as a trainer nor as a technical director," Lippi told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I have not advised anyone. I have been asked 'what do you think of (Fabio) Cannavaro?' And of (Fabio) Grosso? I replied: 'their signings would be a positive thing from all points of view, not just technical.'
"But of course! If they were to ask me the question again, I would respond 'Cannavaro and Grosso will be two points of strength for Italy at the World Cup.'
"They have also asked me about Ferrara. I replied 'for charisma, knowledge, and preparation he is a great trainer. Made for his job.' I'll even say it now.
"But it bothers me. I have not spoken well of them for egotistical reasons or to make them play at the World Cup. No. I have done it because I think they are positive signings.
"That things aren't going very well is another argument. Juventus have built a team that has never played. We have seen little of (Mohamed) Sissoko and he needs six or seven games in a row. Then there are the injured, (Vincenzo) Iaquinta, (Claudio) Marchisio, (Mauro) Camoranesi and the others.
"The team has lost security. It isn't calm. When they finally recover everyone, things will straighten out."
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Juventus are in the midst of a difficult run of form having lost five of their past six games in all competitions and speculation is inevitably surrounding the position of coach Ciro Ferrara.
Lippi, who remains a popular figure in Turin, is expected to step down from his post with the Azzurri after the World Cup and some pundits have believed that he would then re-join the Bianconeri either as a coach or as a technical director.
"I will not return to Juventus neither as a trainer nor as a technical director," Lippi told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I have not advised anyone. I have been asked 'what do you think of (Fabio) Cannavaro?' And of (Fabio) Grosso? I replied: 'their signings would be a positive thing from all points of view, not just technical.'
"But of course! If they were to ask me the question again, I would respond 'Cannavaro and Grosso will be two points of strength for Italy at the World Cup.'
"They have also asked me about Ferrara. I replied 'for charisma, knowledge, and preparation he is a great trainer. Made for his job.' I'll even say it now.
"But it bothers me. I have not spoken well of them for egotistical reasons or to make them play at the World Cup. No. I have done it because I think they are positive signings.
"That things aren't going very well is another argument. Juventus have built a team that has never played. We have seen little of (Mohamed) Sissoko and he needs six or seven games in a row. Then there are the injured, (Vincenzo) Iaquinta, (Claudio) Marchisio, (Mauro) Camoranesi and the others.
"The team has lost security. It isn't calm. When they finally recover everyone, things will straighten out."
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Personal
Also see:
