07 December 2015
Gigi Buffon says the Bianconeri will be giving everything they’ve got to maintain their grip on first place in this season’s Champions League Group D when they run out for their final European game of 2015 against Sevilla tomorrow night in Andalusia.
A 1-0 Matchday 5 win over Manchester City secured the Old Lady’s safe passage through to the competition’s knockout stages but the club captain is urging his team-mates to go one better and round off their group campaign on a high by seizing the moment in Seville.
Speaking to the media earlier this evening, Buffon began: “We know it will be tough tomorrow night but we’ve got an important target in our sights. Even though we’ve already qualified for the knockout stages, it would be a real pity if we didn’t make the most of this opportunity.”
Early season Serie A struggles have been offset by the team’s solid showings on the European stage, where an unbeaten 2015/16 Champions League campaign has seen the Bianconeri maintain the type of form that propelled them towards the competition’s final hurdle last year.
Buffon claims he can note similarities between the current crop and successful Juventus sides of yesteryear, in particular the star-studded outfit that went all the way to the final in 2003.
“We can hold our own against anyone in Europe and displayed just that last year. We’ve always come up with the right answers when we’ve had to stand up and be counted and this has made me think that we’re an excellent team.
"Winning in Manchester and beating Sevilla shows you’re a strong side. All that was lacking was the consistency that we’ve now rediscovered.
“I’ve been here for a while now and this particular side has a way of playing in Europe that’s very similar to the first Juventus team I was part of, the one that reached the final in Manchester following an important run.”
Tomorrow will see Buffon and his team-mates lock horns with a familiar face in Fernando Llorente, whose vital contribution to the Bianconeri cause during his two seasons in Turin was hailed by the skipper towards the end of his media briefing.
He concluded: “Fernando’s a guy we’re all very fond of. He left a magnificent mark, because he’s a great guy and his goals and willingness to work for the team enabled us to achieve important results. It will be a real pleasure to see him again.”
