FORMER ITALY AND Juventus coach Marcello Lippi believes nothing can tarnish Gianluigi Buffon’s career despite the goalkeeper’s red card against Real Madrid.
Buffon was sent off late in Juve’s Champions League quarter-final exit at the hands of Madrid after angrily confronting referee Michael Oliver over a spot-kick awarded to the La Liga giants.
The 40-year-old slammed Oliver in an emotional outburst post-match, leading to criticism of the shot-stopper.
But Lippi said Buffon’s reputation remained intact, while insisting Oliver got the decision wrong.
“There is nothing that can tarnish Gianluigi Buffon’s splendid career at all, either as a player or a man,” he said.
“Nobody could expect such a game. The same goes for Roma [against Barcelona], to be honest. But Juve and Roma were exceptional.
For Juventus, there was only an incorrect decision by the referee, who is very good, but in my opinion made a mistake in that case, and destroyed a fantastic Juventus performance.”
While Juve bowed out after the late drama, Roma reached the semi-finals following an incredible comeback against Barcelona.
Juventus are still on pace to win Serie A, with the side holding a six-point lead on second-placed Napoli.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
5th Province very unlikely, Connacht struugle to get the supporters need to be viable, a development side, splitting support from one of the established provinces isnt really viable or wanted by the other 4. A team in England or France is unlikely as the IRFU would have to pay millions to have players released for training camps, only realistic options is either a partnership with someone like Dragons/zebre where young players paid by IRFU can go for gametime and player release in agreed, but would the WRU/FIR be happy that Irish players are developing instead of their own? Most realistic is a partnership with the SRU to relaunch a 3rd Scottish side, Boarders or Caledonian Reds, young Irish players and some senior Scottish ones could make a competitive team. Has existing supporter base.
@Kingshu: I’d be sending those post-Academy young players struggling to get game time to the Southern Hemisphere to get game time on loan. Player release isn’t an issue & they need to experience different environments for skill & personal development. Effectively get them doing what Oli Jager has done in NZ but with the option to bring him back after 2 years
@Graham Ross: But how many SH teams would want them in any numbers, for NZ/SA sides they would say why we giving gametime to young Irish players and not young NZ players, that will stay if they are good? Why invest in something they will not get the end result off. Most SR sides would be similar, maybe they would take 2/3 in total, but thats not really going to make a big difference. MLR team may be an option, somewhere with big Irish population, but that isn’t playing with the big boys.