Buffon: ‘I’d play Cardiff again’

By Football Italia staff

Gianluigi Buffon wouldn’t replay Italy-Sweden if he could, but would go back and play Juventus’ Champions League final defeat in Cardiff again.

The goalkeeper gave a long interview to Gazzetta dello Sport, and he was asked which of the recent disappointments he’d play again.

“I wouldn’t repeat Italy-Sweden,” Buffon insisted.

“We didn’t fail in spirit, attitude or unity, but we revealed some limitations.

“I’d play Cardiff again because if we gave 80-90 per cent against Sweden, against Real [Madrid] in the second half we lacked the solidity which has always been our strength.

“Maybe we thought we could play an open game, and it’s not like that. There are values, an experienced team must know that, in a certain style, they can win against anyone.

“When the level rises though, you have to be very careful.

“It’s normal that the fans have negative feelings, the lost finals are burns we’ll always carry with us.

“We players didn’t experience it like that though, when we went onto the pitch we knew it would be difficult but we had the confidence we could play it.”

Buffon also discussed Juventus as a club, having joined the Old Lady for a record fee in 2001.

“The Juventus system changed my life, changed the way I view my work and the path to take to achieve goals, even if I had a bit of that in my family anyway.

“I have parents and sisters with a sporting background, they’ve never been condescending with me. There’s a Juventus way of thinking, and finding that in Turin has only been good for me.

“This club is different to the others because in recent decades in Italy and Europe it has always been balanced and attentive in spending, but has managed to balance financial virtuosity with sporting results.

“Being at Juve isn’t for many because it’s draining, but it forges you. It’s probably a bit more fun in other places, but less successful.

“If I’d chosen Barcelona instead? It would’ve been another life, another career and it’s impossible to know how it would have gone.

“Let’s say I stayed in the tunnel at Camp Nou, but I’m really happy to have chosen Juve.”

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