Vialli: Juventus have what it takes to win the Champions League
Tuesday May 31 2016
Former Juventus striker Gianluca Vialli believes the Serie A champions now have what it takes to go on and win the Champions League next season.
Massimiliano Allegri's side reached the final of the competition in 2015, but fell at the last-16 stage this season after a dramatic defeat to Bayern Munich as Real Madrid went onto win the tournament's final in Milan.
But Vialli - who captained the Bianconeri to the Champions League title in 1996 - believes the Turin outfit are very close to replicating that success after going toe-to-toe with Europe's best over the past few campaigns.
"I don’t think there is anything missing [for Juventus to challenge Real Madrid]," Vialli told Goal. "I think they have got the confidence now, the experience.
"They believe they belong to the elite of European football so believe in yourself is fundamental. They lost to an unbeatable Barcelona side, this year they went out with Bayern Munich but they were 30 seconds from knocking them out so I think that they are there or thereabouts with the rest of the top clubs in Europe."
Vialli's triumph 20 years ago was the last time Juve won Europe's premier club competition, but after five successive Scudetto wins there is a feeling it is time Allegri's squad took the next step and stamped their mark on continental football.
But ex-Chelsea boss Vialli is under no lillusions as to how difficult it is to win the trophy and stresses that luck with injuries and suspensions can play a key role.
"In the Champions League it is difficult because it is a matter of details and sometimes one week you play fantastic football for the whole season but that particular week you have got a couple of injuries, players suspended, you are not in top form and you get knocked out.
"You are still a great club but the Champions League is particularly difficult."
