21 April 2015
Gianluigi Buffon spoke of the “pride and responsibility” resting on the team’s shoulders ahead of tomorrow night’s pivotal Champions League quarter-final return leg against Monaco in Monte Carlo.
The goalkeeper, addressing the media at the Stade Louis II, is under no illusions of the importance of reaching the competition’s final four, viewing the achievement as an indicator of the club’s regained status on the European scene.
He said: “Tomorrow is important for me, my team-mates and the club as a whole. Reaching the semi-finals would show that Juventus are coming on leaps and bounds and also display that we’re ‘back’ on the European stage. This is perhaps the most significant aspect, which heightens the responsibility and pride felt at being here.
“I hope to win the Champions League sooner or later, because it’s an achievement that I’ve personally missed out on and one that Juve have gone too long without winning. I have no idea when it will happen, but I hope it will be as soon as possible.”
To take one step further in his quest for Europe’s greatest club trophy, Buffon and his team-mates must keep Monaco at bay on a night where the onus will be on Leonardo Jardim’s men to attack, given the one-goal advantage Juventus hold from last week’s first leg.
And the goalkeeper remains confident the Bianconeri, backed by a strong overall support structure, will be able to give a good account of themselves when stepping out in the principality tomorrow evening.
“Monaco have what it takes to overturn the scoreline but we’re also confident in our own abilities. We’ve shown ourselves to be reliable performers up until now, but success also depends on how good the club and backroom staff are. The manager’s done really well to immediately get on the same wavelength as us.”
