THE OLD LADY IS MENTAL
JUVENTUS V REAL MADRID Porrini: Victory over Real will complete Juve’s recovery but hardest thing was getting back their winning mindset
SCOTT McDERMOTT EXCLUSIVE
A DECADE ago Juventus were embroiled in a scandal over fixing matches. Now they are just immersed in winning them.
Sergio Porrini believes a Champions League victory over Real Madrid in Cardiff tonight will be a clear symbol of the Turin club’s return to greatness.
In 2006 the Old Lady of Italian football were relegated to Serie B after the Calciopoli investigations linked them to the rigging of games.
It provoked national uproar as club officials were dragged through the courts but Juve and their fans suffered most.
They were stripped of two top-flight titles, demoted to the league below and deserted by superstar players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Fabio Cannavaro.
Former managing director Luciano Moggi was given a life ban from the game and the club’s reputation was in tatters. At that point a Champions League Final appearance seemed a million miles away.
The Juventus side Porrini was part of in the mid-90s had established themselves as one of Europe’s major forces. Having beaten Ajax to lift the trophy in 1996, they were losing finalists the following year against Borussia Dortmund.
Back then under Marcello Lippi they feared no one. According to Porrini winning games became part of Juventus’ DNA. And the former Rangers defender insists that aside from everything else they lost in 2006 that mindset was the toughest thing to regain.
After returning to Serie A they went through a period of indifference. A revolving door of managers could only muster sixth and seventh-place finishes. But that all changed when Antonio Conte returned to his spiritual home six years ago.
He has been a revelation at Chelsea this season as the Blues have rediscovered their winning touch. But it was the same at his former club as he reinvigorated Juve and made them believe they belonged in the same company as Real. That’s why Porrini says tonight’s clash is so important.
Speaking to Record Sport he said: “Winning this Champions League would mean so much to Juventus for many reasons. They haven’t won it since 1996 when I was involved with the squad.
“For a club like Juventus not to have won it in 21 years is very strange. Because as a club they always played to win everything, whether it was in Italy or Europe.
“But after Juventus were relegated to the second division in 2006 they have struggled to build a team capable of challenging again at the top in Europe.
“Since then they have found it difficult to get to the same level and be competitive with the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
“It wasn’t easy for the club. They have needed a lot of time. In the beginning they suffered a lot of problems. They could only finish low down in Serie A.
“But everything changed when Conte came back as manager. He gave them back a winning mentality. He made it important for Juve players to win any game.
“Even if you’re 10 points in front of the team below you – you must win.
“Conte brought that winning mentality back and they’ve had it ever since. It goes right through the club now. But winning