Alessio Tacchinardi insists the lack of home support may have affected Juventus” data-scaytid=”3″>Juventus in Tuesday’s Champions League tie against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Alessio Tacchinardi insists the lack of home support may have affected Juventus in Tuesday’s Champions League tie against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Less than 30,000 fans were present at the 41,000 capacity Juventus Stadium – the new arena’s second lowest attendance – for the 1-1 draw in which the Bianconeri were perhaps lucky to grab a point.
Having once played at the old Stadio Delle Alpi in front of just 561 fans for a Coppa Italia tie against Vicenza, the former Juventus midfielder knows the importance of the crowd.
“Fans at the Delle Alpi were not the team’s twelfth man, but they are at the Juventus Stadium,” he told Tuttosport.
“That’s why, the other night against Shakhtar Donetsk, the Bianconeri clearly paid the price for the lack of encouragement.
“You instantly saw that the side were tired, but, if the usual support was there from the previous games, then the players would have found some extra energy.
“Even during the warm-up at the Juventus Stadium, the fans prepare you for the game. Without support it becomes difficult.”
Some fans stayed away because of the ticket prices, while others decided to follow the game in silence in protest at some of the club’s rulings with regards to the use of flags and banners.