Thursday, 4th April, 2013
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has come to the defence of his skipper Gianluigi Buffon, after the Juventus shot-stopper was mocked by German great Franz Beckenbauer, who claimed that he was playing like a “pensioner”.
The comments from the former Bayern Munich president came after Buffon failed to save a shot from David Alaba, which turned into the first goal of the match for Bayern Munich, in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday, against Juventus.
“Gigi has proved himself and will come back strong, and on the pitch everything will be decided”, Prandelli told Tuttosport.
Beckenbauer mocked the goalkeeper saying that he could have stopped the long distance strike from left-back Alba within 30 seconds of the start of the game.
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Buffon had later replied ironically: “I cannot blame him.”
"Beckenbauer and Buffon? Gigi responded well, with great balance, with great irony, but retirees are wise people!”, Prandelli, who was present at the unveiling of the 2013 Football Report in Rome, added.
He also spoke of the Old Lady’s chances of overturning the 2-0 defeat when both the sides meet at Turin next week.
“The game is still open, wide open", he said.
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