Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon dedicated his side’s 1-0 away win in the Champions League quarter-final over Monaco to former Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini on the third anniversary of his death.
The 37-year-old acknowledged that Juve were put under pressure early on but was delighted with the result and the clean sheet that the Old Lady will take with them into the return leg in Monaco on April 22.
“There are two very positive points to be taken from this result: that we won and that we didn’t concede a goal at home,” said Buffon to Sky Sport Italia after the game.
“That clean sheet is something that we can benefit from in the return leg.”
“There we some difficulties early on as they had some chances after we made some mistakes and they played some good football.
“When you play at this level, it is impossible not to play against teams who have a lot of quality, they played well and proved this.”
Buffon was also asked if he hopes to carry on playing until he is 40-years-old.
“One should stop playing when you take to the pitch and realise that you are no longer yourself, but I don’t think that’s the case for me yet,” said Buffon.
“Therefore, it seems that it would be a mistake for me to quit too early, why should I stop if I still feel good?”
Buffon finished by dedicating Juve’s win to Morosini and Fabrizio Quattrocchi who was an Italian security officer killed in Iraq in 2004; as it fell on April 14, the day when both Italians died.
“I want to dedicate this victory to Morosini and Quattrocchi,” said Buffon.
“Morosini made me proud to be a footballer and Quattrocchi made me proud to be an Italian.”
