Ronaldo urges Juve belief after Supercoppa triumph

By Sports Desk January 20, 2021

Cristiano Ronaldo believes Juventus' 2-0 Supercoppa Italiana victory over Napoli can bolster their confidence in the fight for the Scudetto.

Ronaldo opened the scoring in Reggio Emilia, netting the 760th goal of his incredible career - a strike that pulled him level with Josef Bican as the greatest goalscorer of all-time according to some estimates.

Substitute Alvaro Morata sealed the first silverware of Andrea Pirlo's tenure with the final kick of the game, although Juve were indebted to a penalty miss by Lorenzo Insigne and two magnificent saves from Wojciech Szczesny.

"It was a difficult match, very difficult, but we had an excellent attitude," Ronaldo told television reporters.

"Winning this cup is very important to gain confidence. We are very happy."

Wednesday's triumph saw Juve bounce back from a dispiriting 2-0 loss at Inter last weekend, a setback that left them 10 points shy of leaders Milan with a game in hand.

"We need a different attitude, we made a mistake with Inter," Ronaldo said.

"But it has passed. The important thing was to win today and it is a very important trophy because it can give us confidence for our growth in view of the next matches."

Naturally, Ronaldo is not giving up on Juventus winning their 10th consecutive Serie A title just yet.

"Milan and Inter are very strong, but the season is still long, a lot of games are left and, yes, I think we can win," he added.

"The road is very difficult but I think it is possible."

Related items

  • Motta: Juventus 'deserved more' from Lille stalemate Motta: Juventus 'deserved more' from Lille stalemate

    Thiago Motta feels Juventus "deserved more" against Lille, insisting "I cannot be happy" with the 1-1 draw in the Champions League.

    The spoils were shared at Stade Pierre Mauroy, where a second-half Dusan Vlahovic penalty cancelled out Jonathan David's opener in the 27th minute.

    Juve responded well to falling behind, controlling large periods of the contest after the break, but were unable to turn their superiority into a winning goal.

    That moved the Bianconeri onto seven points after four games, though Motta believes their tally should be greater.

    "I'm happy with the players, but I cannot be happy with the result, we deserved more than a draw," he said.

    "We faced a team who were well-organised, defended very well and who were ready to hurt us on the break. Lille know what they are doing, they are full of confidence at the moment. But it was a great performance from my lads.

    "We certainly could've done better in the final third, though the quality of our football improved in the second half.

    "We wanted a different result and created the opportunities to get that, but I am happy with the performance. We can improve certain things but, overall, I am satisfied with the way the team played."

    Motta also praised the performances of Francisco Conceicao and Kenan Yildiz, with the pair carrying some of Juventus' greater threats down the wings.

    "The two wingers who started were in good form, we knew that we would have to go down the flanks to break Lille down," the Bianconeri coach added.

    "It was tough for us to push through the middle today because Lille were closing up all the spaces, so we had to attack wide with the wingers, and also the full-backs overlapping.

    "Kenan and Francisco are very good at taking men on in one-on-one situations to break down teams that are clammed up.

    "I really liked them in the second half, as they were in the right zones to accept the ball, and I am glad about what they both did."

  • Reggae Girlz keeper Becky Spencer signs new Tottenham Hotspur deal aiming to make a lasting impact Reggae Girlz keeper Becky Spencer signs new Tottenham Hotspur deal aiming to make a lasting impact

    Reggae Girlz goalkeeper Becky Spencer is set to remain with Tottenham Hotspur Women until 2026, after signing a new contract that will see her continue her contributions both on and off the pitch. Spencer, who joined Spurs from West Ham United in 2019, has been instrumental in the club's journey through the Women's Super League (WSL) and is looking forward to extending her legacy.

    The 33-year-old Jamaican international, who has already featured in Tottenham’s first six games of the current WSL season, is thrilled to extend her stay. "I'm over the moon," Spencer shared with SPURSPLAY. "Having been here for a long time now, it was important for me to get this done. It’s amazing that the club wants to keep me here, and I'm really, really happy."

    Spencer reflected on her time at Tottenham, recalling the club’s early days in the WSL. "When I first joined, we had just been promoted to the WSL, and the journey has been incredible. We’ve come a long way, and I’m excited to keep moving forward with the team," she said.

    Over an 18-year career, Spencer has gained extensive experience in both England and the United States. Through highs and lows, including injuries and team transitions, she’s become a seasoned WSL veteran. Now approaching her 100th appearance for Tottenham, Spencer highlighted the special moments that have defined her time at the club, recalling her debut game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. "That first game against Chelsea was huge for us—just one-nil down and competing against top teams showed everyone we had arrived," she reminisced.

    As she enters her sixth season with Tottenham, Spencer is committed to guiding younger players and helping the club grow. "Throughout my career, I’ve wanted to leave every club in a better place than I found it," she added. "I hope to be a mentor and make an impact off the pitch as well, so that when my time here ends, I can leave feeling proud of what we’ve achieved."

    With Spencer’s leadership, Tottenham Hotspur Women look forward to building on last season's top-six finish and pushing even further in the competitive landscape of the WSL. For Spencer, the new deal is more than just an extension—it's a commitment to shaping the future of the club and ensuring its growth, both now and beyond her playing days.

     

  • Amorim 'couldn't ask for a better farewell' as Sporting thrash Man City Amorim 'couldn't ask for a better farewell' as Sporting thrash Man City

    Ruben Amorim was lifted into the air by his players following Sporting CP's 4-1 victory over Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday in his final home game in charge.

    City had initially gone a goal ahead through Phil Foden inside four minutes, but the Portuguese side came roaring back.

    Viktor Gyokeres equalised before half-time, while Maximilaino Araujo put the home side ahead within seconds of the restart. Gyokeres had his second from a penalty three minutes later, while Erling Haaland hit the bar from the spot in the second half.

    The rout was complete with a Gyokeres hat-trick and another penalty with 10 minutes to go, and Amorim agreed after the game that it was a magical way to sign off 

    "Looking at the game, it was written on the wall," he told reporters. "The opponent missing a penalty. There are days when things have to happen in a certain way.

    "I couldn't ask for a better farewell. I'm very happy for this moment. It will still be better if we win in Braga, but I don't think I could ask for better.

    "The result helped with the farewell. Everyone deserved this moment. We were very happy here in the [Jose] Alvalade [Stadium]. We've been through difficult times and to finish like this is special."

    While Amorim has achieved incredible success at Sporting – winning two Portuguese titles and 10 games out of 10 this season – he said that he understands the need for a different approach at United.

    "When I'm at the next club, the approach will have to be different. Not much is taken from here because we will have to play differently in the future," he said.

    "Both are historic clubs. It will certainly be a different game."

    He also vowed to ignore the press and pressure from social media to begin with.

    "I'm certainly not going to read anything for six months. I did the same at Sporting. I'm not going to read anything or have access to anything. It's the only way to do my job." he said.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.