Juventus boss Alberto Zaccheroni hopes the return to action of
David Trezeguet and Mauro Camoranesi will boost his side when they
host Palermo.
The Bianconeri reached the last 16 of the Europa League on
Thursday night as a 0-0 home draw with Ajax saw The Old Lady
progress following their 2-1 win in Holland.
And France striker Trezeguet and Italy midfielder Camoranesi
both gained some valuable match time, with the former being tipped
to start Sunday's league match.
Zaccheroni told Gazzetta dello Sport: "We need everyone
available, with my players I have spoken very clearly. There has
been no definitive choice over who will play, these are things we
will find out on the field. The minutes Trezeguet and Camoranesi
got will serve them well as we prepare for Sunday."
Brazilian midfielder Diego reacted angrily to being withdrawn
for Camoranesi on Thursday, and Zaccheroni has warned his players
they need to understand that his decisions are taken on what is
best for the team.
"The others must understand that we are a team," he
continued. "I'm not the coach of the individual but the group and I
make my choices based on what is best for the team."
Despite his side's inability to find a winner against Ajax,
Zaccheroni feels his team is moving in the right direction.
He said: "The knockout stages are a step forward. We played a
good game, which was delicate and difficult.
"The team is getting back to its best and we have players
returning from injury. There will be plenty of work ahead for the
rest of the season, but we're improving.
"It was an important 2-1 in our favour against a team that
does not spend a lot of effort physically and mentally in their
league. We needed to read the game well and bring home the result.
"It was important to score in the first half. We tried , but
as it continued at 0-0, I decided to bring home the result - it
seemed appropriate, given that some players got tired."
Juventus enter the game on the back of a six-match unbeaten
run in all competitions, but they know a defeat will see their
opponents leapfrog them in the league table and they are likely to
be without striker Amauri, who was forced off in midweek.
Sixth-placed Palermo are boosted by the return to fitness of
defender Mattia Cassani and striker Edinson Cavani but captain
Fabrizio Miccoli is a doubt after suffering a knock in an 8-0
friendly victory over Orlandini.
Abel Hernandez is set to step in if he is unavailable.
