A stroll through Italy and the Serie A
by Paul Visca, SerieA.tv
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Jose Mourinho has claimed that Andriy Shevchenko had only himself to blame for his failure at Chelsea.
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The Inter coach was the first of three managers that the Ukrainian striker worked under in two disappointing seasons at the English Premier League side and the Portuguese trainer revealed that the player who has recently returned to his beloved AC Milan arrived in England with the wrong attitude.
He said: "He was like a prince in Milan and at Chelsea our philosophy was different, we had no princes. Everybody needs to work like everybody else and everybody needs to prove he deserves to play.
"I think maybe he lost some self-confidence. Step-by-step a player goes in the wrong direction."
The 31-year-old sealed a move back to the Rossoneri at the weekend after convincing Blues owner Roman Abramovich to grant his release after being looked over by new coach Felipe Scolari for the opening fixture of the new season at the Stamford Bridge club.
Contrary to what may be expected for the club's record signing, Mourinho said the 31-year-old, who cost €45 million in 2006, was not his first choice in the transfer market.
He said: "He was not my first option but the club gave him to me as a second option."
However, the 45-year-old tactician, who won his first trophy with his new club with victory in the Italian Super Cup on Sunday, has maintained that Sheva will rediscover his goal touch.
He added: "I believe in the future he will again be a player of high quality. The truth is I never had a single personal problem with him and I wish him well for the future."
Meanwhile, the return of the second most prolific goal scorer of all time at AC Milan has paved the way for Alberto Paloschi to join Parma, with the 18-year-old determined to seek playing time in Serie B.
Amauri dreams big
Amauri believes that Juventus have earned themselves the right to start believing in European glory.
The Brazilian striker paid back a chunk of the 25million euro transfer fee with the equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Artmedia in Bratislava which eased the Turin giants back into the European big time after a two year lay-off.
He said: "The Champions League is a dream and now we can fight for this dream. I'd like to play in all the matches and lift the cup."
The 28-year-old was joined in attack by Vincenzo Iaquinta in Tuesday's Champions League preliminary round second-leg, with Serie A's top two goal scorers last season, Alex Del Piero and David Trezeguet, on the bench after they had lent their hand in the 4-0 home-leg win.
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It was the former Chievo man's first competitive strike for his new club following his move from Palermo and he explained that all the forwards available to Claudio Ranieri were willing to do their utmost to ensure success at the Bianconeri.
He said: "When you're at Juve, it's natural to have enthusiasm and I'm very happy with the goal, it boosts morale.
"We're physically and psychologically fit and we have the right attitude too. We strikers are all willing to help out and we give all we can, whether we play from the start or we come on during a match."
Galliani demands Ancelotti deliver title
Adriano Galliani has warned AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti that he expects him to win the Serie A title in light of the club's heavy investment in the transfer market.
The Rossoneri have brought big names such as Ronaldinho, Italy full-back Gianluca Zambrotta, and in the last few days brought Andriy Shevchenko back from Chelsea as well as taking Philippe Senderos on loan from Arsenal.
The vice-president said: "I think that Ancelotti will be happy with the squad we have assembled for him and now it's his problem to win the league.
"He knows we have a title-winning side now and although that means we can also lose it, we have to be fighting to the end."
With the transfer window set to close on September 1st, the San Siro giants will be looking to reduce the size of their squad and the chief executive admitted that there are number of players set for the exit door, including full-back Massimo Oddo and midfielder Cristian Brocchi.
He claimed: "Lyon are interested in Oddo and anything is possible"
Brocchi, for his part, has been earmarked for a loan move to Lazio following the arrival of another Arsenal player Mathieu Flamini.
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Spalletti sure of AS Roma strength
Luciano Spalletti has come away from his side's defeat to Inter with the knowledge that AS Roma are not inferior to the Italian champions.
Having watching his side lose the Italian Super Cup on penalties to the Nerazzurri, the 49-year-old is convinced that the capital outfit held their own at the San Siro.
He said: "I didn't see a great difference between Inter and Roma. Over the match, the Roma players can come away with their head held high.
"They got over certain situations which last season proved difficult to overturn."
The Giallorossi coach has also declared himself satisfied with the squad of players at his disposal for the forthcoming campaign which gets underway on Sunday at the Olympic stadium against Napoli, probably without the services of the talented Francesco Totti.
The 31-year-old captain received an ankle knock after making his appearance in the season's curtain raiser as a second-half substitute.
He added: "We need to aim for what is possible to achieve but we can be rest assured because the players we have are very good and know how to cope in different situations.
"What I need is the collective, especially when it comes down to group mentality. It's not one player who makes the difference.
"In fact, Roma have won even when the likes of Totti, Taddei and Mancini were missing."
Reports from France indicate that the deal to take Jeremy Menez from AS Monaco to the capital is concluded after the French side reduced the asking price for the 21-year-old from €25 million to nearer €15 million.
The attacking midfielder is expected to arrive in Rome on Thursday and following a medical will put pen to paper on a four-year deal.
Paul Visca is a writer and match commentator for SerieA.TV and contributes Italian soccer news for FoxSoccer.com.
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