Lippi shrugs off crisis talk

By Marcus Christenson

Juventus FC will be desperate to return to winning ways when they meet FC Basel in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night at the Delle Alpi stadium in Turin.

Four games without a win 
The Italian champions have gone four games without a win having drawn with Bologna FC, RC Deportivo La Coruña and AS Roma before losing their first Serie A game of the season on Sunday, going down 2-0 at Brescia Calcio.

Lippi unconcerned 
However, Bianconeri coach Marcello Lippi seemed unconcerned ahead of the Group D fixture, pointing out that his side are still in the race for the Scudetto and have every chance of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals.

No crisis 
"I don't think we are in a crisis," he said. "Of course I would like to win every game but just because we have drawn a few, and even lost one, it doesn't mean we should abandon our long-term targets. We know what we want and we still think we can achieve it by May. Now, though, we have to concentrate on Basel."

Di Vaio form 
Lippi also shrugged off speculation that his team is "too dependent on [Alessandro] Del Piero". Summer signing Marco Di Vaio has scored only twice in 13 league games, and missed a fantastic opening against Brescia, while Marcelo Salas and Marcelo Zalyeta have also failed to make an impact.

Trezeguet in squad 
Trezeguet is in the squad to face Basel, while Del Piero is certain to start after being on the bench at the weekend. "There is no way we will underestimate Basel," Lippi said. "I have watched several of their games and they have some really good players in the Yakin brothers [Murat and Hakan], [Julio Hernán] Rossi and [Christian] Giménez up front, and I also like the defender [Thimothée] Atouba. They are a good, solid side and will be difficult to play against."

Caution to the wind 
Basel coach Christian Gross, meanwhile, has told his players to abandon any thoughts of playing for a draw. The Swiss champions lost their opening second group stage encounter at home to Manchester United FC - but Gross is confident they can cause an upset in Turin.

Basel will not sit back 
"We are not going there to make up the numbers," he said. "It is an important game for us and we will not just sit back and let them come on to us. We want to get something out of the game and I think we are capable of doing that."

Hectic start to the season 
Basel are feeling the strain after a hectic autumn, however. The game against Juventus will be the 34th of their campaign. Gross is hoping midfield player Ivan Ergic will recover from a thigh injury in time to play but welcomes back defenders Murat Yakin and Bernt Haas after they were rested for the 4-1 win over FC Wil 1900 at the weekend. With Juventus hungry for goals, they could be needed.