アクイラーニの去就で明暗を分けたユベントスとリバプール！！

Alberto Aquilani Expects To Sign Permanent Deal With Juventus In March Or April - Agent(Goal.com)

The agent of Juventus midfielder Alberto Aquilani believes his client will only speak about a permanent move to the Bianconeri in March or April.

Franco Zavaglia admits Aquilani was not a bad choice when he joined the Turin giants on loan late in the transfer window.

"We will only speak with management in the Spring: March or April, and not any time prior" Zavaglia told TuttoJuve.com. "He is playing well, and as long as he does this, Liverpool will not be giving us a discount.

"I had told the press he was not a waste. Everyone has now realised how good a player he is.

"He has the ability to change a team, and am pleased not only for scoring, but also because of how he is playing. I also thank [Juventus coach Luigi] Del Neri for the words he spoke about Aquilani, which have given him motivation."

Zavaglia is also pleased that the former Roma midfielder is also in consideration for a national team call-up.

"It is certainly an objective, but an Italian national team jersey is only awarded after continuity," he concluded.

怪我がちでローマでくすぶっていたアルベルト・アクイラーニ。才能は本物だったが、シャビ・アロンソの代役としてリバプールに移籍しても才能の片鱗を見せることはできなかった。結局はホジソンに戦力外とされてユベントスに買い取りオプション付きでローンされた。

ユベントスでもレジスタのファーストチョイスはクラウディオ・マルキジオで、アクイラーニの出番はなかった。しかし、ルイジ・デル・ネーリはアクイラーニがフィットするのを待っていただけだった。インテル戦で途中出場で存在感を見せると、レッチェ戦ではマルキジオのアシストで先制点をあげてみせた。

デル・ネーリはアクイラーニにユベントスの戦術を理解させ、どうプレーすればフィットするかをきっちり教えていたのだろう。アクイラーニはユベントスで自信をもってプレーしているように見える。代理人がユベントス移籍はよい選択で、３月か４月には完全移籍での契約をしたいと望むのは当然のことだ。

さらに、アクイラーニはイタリア代表に招集されることも見えてきている。これだけきっちり仕事ができるならレジスタとしてきっちり仕事ができるはずだ。戦術理解も高く、低迷するアッズーリの救世主としてゲームを組み立てるプレーヤーになれるはずだ。

Calcio Debate: Liverpool ‘Flop’ Alberto Aquilani Is Reborn As Juventus Revival Continues(Goal.com)

On the weekend where the crisis of England’s most successful club went from bad to worse with yet another defeat to Everton in the Merseyside Derby, a result that sees Liverpool floundering in the relegation zone, out-on-loan Reds midfielder Alberto Aquilani poured yet more salt into an already sore wound with an indomitable performance for an increasingly improving Juventus side.

While there is no doubt that Liverpool erred in splashing out €20 million on a player who has had more injuries than a Nigel De Jong torture victim, especially as he was signed as Xabi Alonso’s replacement, all this talk of the 26-year-old being an unmitigated ‘flop’ is rather, well, premfaced. Not only did Aquilani play very well in virtually all of his admittedly low number of 26 games for Liverpool last season, more importantly the 2007 Champions League finalists are crying out for a commanding midfielder of his ilk just now.

Juventus were already laughing all the way to the bank when they managed to sell the worst player to represent the Bianconeri for at least a decade – Christian Poulsen – to Liverpool for €5.5m, their merriment increased even further when they were handed Aquilani on loan in return, with the option to buy him permanently. In the space of a few months Liverpool have gone from a midfield of Mascherano-Aquilani-Gerrard to one including Poulsen, the equally awful Lucas and Raul Meireles. No wonder they are in the relegation zone.

The Roman has gradually been implemented into the Juventus starting XI, and the last few weeks has demonstrated that if he can stay fit he will be a top-class – potentially world class – midfielder for the Old Lady. He confirmed his impressive showing against Inter a fortnight ago with another super display in the 4-0 thrashing of Lecce yesterday afternoon. Aquilani opened the scoring with a 25-yard thunderbolt, and controlled the middle-of-the-park alongside fellow reborn team-mate Felipe Melo.

The Brazilian had an horrific first season in Turin last term, following his big-money move from Fiorentina where he had been the best midfielder in Serie A in 2008/09, but Luigi Del Neri has rediscovered the 27-year-old. Melo tucked away the non-existent penalty Juve were awarded yesterday with an impudent ‘Panenka’ chip down the middle of the goal, an execution that symbolised his form and confidence. As well as his renowned defensive work, Melo was even surprisingly spraying 50-yard Michel Platini raking-passes around the pitch.

With Milos Krasic once again unstoppable on the right flank, and centre-back duo Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci blossoming to earn a second clean sheet in a row, there is no doubt that Juventus are growing in stature. Finally, the Bianconeri have a recognisable system and style of play.

It is unlikely that the Old Lady will challenge for the Scudetto this season. There are still far too many weaknesses such as the full back positions, the left midfield role, and the absence of a top-class forward. But, if Juve maintain their current form then a top four spot at least should be a guarantee. And that will enable them to fill these holes with Edin Dzeko-calibre stars and really challenge for major honours from 2011/12.

Just like Liverpool now, Juventus recently hit rock bottom both on-and-off-the-pitch. But the signs are there, with a new president who shares his grandfather’s values, a new stadium on the way, a ‘new’ group of promising players such as Aquilani, Melo, Krasic and Bonucci, and a new, clear system, that Italy’s most successful team are on the road to success again sooner rather than later.

ビッグ４の一角だったリバプールは現在１９位とどっぷりと降格圏に浸かっている。エバートンとのマージーサイドダービーにも敗れ、買収でクラブ経営が安定してもチームは上昇しないという悪循環ぶりだ。

同じようにクライシスを迎えていたユベントスがチームを建て直し、スクデットを狙えるチームになったのとは対象的でもある。

ユベントスはリバプールに余剰人員であるクリスティアン・ポウルセンを売却し、アクイラーニを買い取りオプション付きのローンで獲得した。リバプールは中盤の要であるシャビ・アロンソ、マスチェラーノ、アクイラーニを失い、ポウルセンだけという状態。ジェラードも本調子ではなく、チームは崩壊状態にある。

一方、昨シーズンに金のバケツ賞を受賞するなど期待を裏切ったフェリペ・メロを守備に専念させることで再生させたデル・ネーリは右サイドのミロシュ・クラシッチの突破でチャンスメイクすると簡単なボールを押し込むだけというクロスでゴールを稼いでいる。キエッリーニとボヌッチの若手アッズーリコンビも今季２回目のクリーンシートと安定、フェリペ・メロが守備に専念することで２ＣＢの負担が軽くなったのも大きい。

もちろん、ユベントスにも多くの弱点がある。フルバックが固定できないこと、左サイドのアタッカーが今ひとつフィットしないこと、ワールドクラスのストライカーがいないことなど問題はあるが、それでもユベントスが建て直しに成功してきっちり結果を残しているのは事実。

チャンピオンズリーグのファイナルまで進出したリバプールのクライシスは、ユベントスのような計画的な再建プランを持っていなかったことが原因なのか。ベニテスからホジソンへの禅譲もうまくいかず、借金が膨らみ、新戦力を獲得することができなかったのも大きい。ルーカスはひどいレベルとまで言い切っている。

ユベントスとリバプールの間でお互いに戦力外の選手を交換したかたちになっただけによけいに対比されてしまう。あまりにもこの差は大きい。

ほとんどのファンがリバプールは失敗したと考えていることからも現在の結果は当然というべきなのだろう。