Juventus patron John Elkann, the grandson of legendary Juventus President Gianni Agnelli, has issued a withering retort to Roma boss ZdenekZeman’s criticism of Juve Coach Antonio Conte.
Conte is currently serving a 10 month ban for his alleged failure to report match fixing. Juve managed to win the Supercoppa without him last Saturday, defeating Napoli 4-2 in Beijing with technical director for youth development MassimoCarrera deputising for the tactician on the touchline.
Zeman , who has a long history of antipathy with Juventus, said at press conference on Sunday that the FIGC hadn’t gone far enough, and that Conte: “shouldn’t be able to train his team”:
“A suspended player can train, but I think a coach with a long ban shouldn’t be able to train his team.
“I haven’t read the full verdicts of the betting trial, but if people want to weaken this phenomenon then they have to be more decisive.”
Asked for a reply to those comments at Juve’s Villar Perosa pre-season retreat today, Elkann quipped:
“The interesting thing is that Carrera in one match has won more than Zeman has in a career. That is the best answer.”
Though regularly lauded for the attractive, attacking football his teams play, Zeman has never won a major trophy, two Serie B titles achieved with Foggia and Pescara being the limit of his achievements.
The 30th September is when the two clubs meet in the league. The press conferences ahead of that game should be very interesting.