Zeman: Supporting Torino in the derby

Zdenek Zeman “hopes Torino will win” the Derby della Mole but “I think in the end Juventus will win the Scudetto”.

The Czech Coach has had a tempestuous history with the Bianconeri, accusing them of doping their players in the 1990s.

Then-doctor Riccardo Agricola was convicted of sporting fraud in the wake of the accusations, but was later cleared by the appeals court.

“The truth is that I was born a Juventino,” Zeman insisted in an interview with Tuttosport.

“I made a 23-hour round trip to see them when they were Coached by my uncle [Čestmír] Vycpálek.

“Years later, I didn’t have a problem with Juventus but with those who were involved with the club, particularly those in power.

“I began to understand certain things when I was Foggia Coach, on one of the first occasions where we faced the Bianconeri.

“We lost, we were denied two penalties and they scored with an offside goal.

“The derby? I hope Torino win, if only for the title race. If it’s re-opened then it becomes more interesting. I hope the best team wins the Scudetto, something which doesn’t often happen in Italy.

“In the end, I think Juve will win the Scudetto this year. But I’m cheering for Toro, for my friend Sinisa [Mihajlovic].”

As a former Roma Coach, Zeman was asked about Miralem Pjanic’s decision to swap the Giallorossi for a move to Turin.

“No-one rejects Juve. I can also think of [Gonzalo] Higuain or [Pavel] Nedved. Juve are Juve.

“If you want to win more easily, then you go to Juve. If you want to win then Juve is very tempting.

“Which Bianconeri players do I like? [Paulo] Dybala. And [Gigi] Buffon, for his charisma.”