06 October 2022
"Gian Piero Ventrone (fitness coach) during his military service took a refresher course in America with the famous Green Berets," - this was how in the summer of 1994 Hurrà Juventus presented a new figure on the Juventus staff that had greatly intrigued its readers. Marcello Lippi's Juve was aiming for an athletic style of football that would make them able to win trophies and admirers in equal measure.
THE MARINE
Every player commented on how hard preparation with Ventrone was. In his own words, he explained his method as, "In my opinion, in any group military spirit is very important. It helps you overcome any physical discomfort to work happily."
The Scudetto arrived in the first year and the professor talked about the work of that special year when the final goal had not yet been reached, "When I arrived, I found a group of guys eager and willing to do well, who did not think about sparing any energy. I have tried to have them appreciate everything they have learned and I have not encountered any difficulties; we are Juve, we have to work because we have to win.
"I also owe a lot to Lippi, a great man and a great coach. I owe him a lot because he leaves me free to think, he has never sought to steer me."
THE VENTRONE METHOD
"Professor Ventrone, how did the team work this summer?" - this was the question that Hurrà asked Gian Piero ahead of the second season.
The answer perfectly captured what he was asking for from the daily work-outs, "Good. The lads have put in the graft, they've created a team spirit - they are coming on well. The older players already know my ideas, the new ones are picking them up quickly."
As an example, he chose to describe the approach of a player that had just arrived, "Attilio Lombardo, during the course of an exercise, hit a wall. He looked around for a moment and without anyone telling him anything he resumed with more enthusiasm than before. That was the response I expected."
EUROPEAN TRIUMPH
The Champions League victory was Juve's masterpiece of that period. Ciro Ferrara and Gian Piero Ventrone enjoy the moment in the changing rooms after the victory over Ajax in the final at the Olimpico stadium. The Lady ruled Europe.
CONTINUITY AND GLORY
That Juve side knew no boundaries and went on to win everything. In April 1998 Ventrone talked about the secret of this continuity of success, revealing what inspired this mentality and his work,
"Every season we try to have more individual parameters so as to make fewer mistakes. If you finish second at Juventus, you are already defeated. The foundation stones are the club, the coaching staff and the players. Everyone must give their best to be competitive, to play in tune like an orchestra.
"We do not want to create football players - robots or supermen - but aim to combine artistic football with athletic football. We are now close to the year 2000 and making distinctions between these two aspects of football means being out of touch with reality. The dexterity and talent of someone like Zidane must be expressed at very high speed, otherwise those skills fade and become impoverished. It takes 'hunger' for knowledge and I never forget what General Patton said, "All glory is fleeting."
