Conte not out for revenge in Supercoppa
Posted Sunday, August 18, 2013 by Foxsports.com
Juventus head coach Antonio Conte believes his side have unfinished business as they prepare to tackle Lazio in the Supercoppa Italiana in Rome.
The Serie A champions face the Coppa Italia winners in the capital city's Stadio Olimpico after the decision was made to restore the season-opening encounter to the peninsula after a two-year stand in Beijing.
The Bianconeri have a formidable record against Lazio in the league, avoiding defeat in 17 meetings since December 2003, but the Biancocelesti did triumph on aggregate in last season's Coppa Italia semi-finals - a failure that still rankles with Conte.
He told juventus.com: "Last year, both in the league and in the Coppa Italia, I think Juventus deserved much more even though we did win 2-0 here in Rome [in Serie A].
"That being said, congratulations to Lazio, who claimed two draws and a win.
"I trust my lads because I will never forget how they have helped me win two league titles in my first two years at Juventus."
Spanish striker Fernando Llorente should start alongside Carlos Tevez despite misfiring in pre-season following his arrival from Athletic Bilbao.
Newspaper reports have suggested the rangy frontman could make a swift return to Primera Division club Valencia on loan, but Conte today gave the story a short shrift.
"You are just trying to make me smile... we know how good he is and we had the skill and the good luck to get him on a free transfer," he said.
"He working hard to get into our mindset and to get used to our system - he's improving every day.
"That's the most important thing."
When the two sides last met in the Supercoppa in 1998, Lazio emerged victorious at the now-demolished Stadio delle Alpi with Sergio Conceicao settling a 2-1 victory.
Two years later Lazio beat Inter Milan to the trophy at the Olimpico, before losing 3-0 to AC Milan at San Siro in 2004, but they would beat Jose Mourinho's Nerazzurri in Beijing five years later.
The Bianconeri won in China last year and also claimed back-to-back trophies in 2002 and 2003 - first defeating Parma in Libya before edging out Milan on penalities in New Jersey.
Lazio boss Vladimir Petkovic feels his players can pull off an upset on home turf tomorrow - providing Juve have an off-day.
He told reporters: "Juve are strong, but we can win. We have improved and we now have a solid defence, even if we could be more clinical in attack.
"Last year, we struggled to contain Juve, but now we are much more courageous. We have impose our style of play on the Bianconeri.
"They are certainly stronger than us but our strength lies in the group and that helps the individual qualities of our players come to the fore.
"If both teams play at 100 per cent of their ability it will still be really tough for us, but we will do everything we can to bring the cup home."
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