Del Piero soldiers on with injury
Superstar Alessandro Del Piero almost missed Sydney FC’s A-League win over Perth due to hamstring worries but he insists there isn’t a problem.
Del Piero scored for the third successive week in the come-from-behind 2-1 win at ANZ Stadium on Sunday, converting a second-half penalty won by fellow marquee star Brett Emerton.
It wasn’t the finest performance of Del Piero’s time in the A-League so far and he appeared to tire late in the match.
But amid pre-match concerns that the Italian needed to rest, it was an admirable showing as he soldiered on for another 90-minute performance.
“I had a problem with the hamstrings. Both, especially the left, and it’s been a hard week for me,” Del Piero said.
“… But I’m really happy today because I play 90 minutes, score and win.”
Sydney coach Ian Crook asked Del Piero if he wanted to come from the field in the second half but the 37-year-old was having none of it.
“Especially after the goal, I’m feeling good and I want to fight and play again and win the game,” Del Piero said.
“That’s why I said to him ‘I’m OK’.”
Del Piero did not believe he needed to give his body a rest and said he would be close to full fitness for next Saturday’s clash with Central Coast in Gosford.
The former Juventus striker had animated discussions with some of Sydney’s staff and players after the match, saying he still felt they had a lot to work on.
“We can improve, that’s why,” he said.
“We can improve and be better and that’s why all of us have to do better than we do now.”
With three goals from four games, Del Piero’s Sydney FC career has started brilliantly but he said his focus was on getting wins rather than improving his personal goal tally.
© AAP 2013The Crowd Says (3) | Page 1 of Comments
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October 29th 2012 @ 8:15am
nachos supreme said | October 29th 2012 @ 8:15am | Report comment
Going on how his exchange with the Spider at full time looked I’d suggest that ADP was anything but happy!
October 29th 2012 @ 12:52pm
wisey_9 said | October 29th 2012 @ 12:52pm | Report comment
agreed! instead of focusing on the handball incident, I want someone to fill me in on what was going on with ADP after the match… he looked far from happy with everyone!
October 30th 2012 @ 1:01pm
nachos supreme said | October 30th 2012 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
I take it as a positive though. That ADP has the passion to crack it like that says good things.
The bloke’s a winner and I can only hope that these geese can get it together before he see’s it as a bit of a lost cause.
Would hate to see him not exercise the option for another year just because his team mates haven’t heard of running into space or not turning the ball over all the time!