How good were they? They reached 3 CL finals in a row, winning 1 (1996). Lost the 1997 final to Dortmund and the 1998 final to Real Madrid. Won a couple of league titles as well.
Marcello Lippi's Juventus
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Absolutely bloody awesome. The best team in Europe at the time. It was a watershed moment for us when we beat them on the way to 1999 CL final.
They would be out of the gates so quickly and score early, which would put you on the back foot.
There was some controversy about them though zdenek zeman said they were drugged up to the eyeballs.
We were a fit team back then but Juventus were a different level.
Fantastic team 
This is taking me back decades now but if my shoddy memory recalls, they were unlucky to lose both those finals to Dortmund and Madrid. Not sure if someone can correct me, not arsed to check. The 90’s Serie A teams were different gravy.
This is taking me back decades now but if my shoddy memory recalls, they were unlucky to lose both those finals to Dortmund and Madrid. Not sure if someone can correct me, not arsed to check. The 90’s Serie A teams were different gravy.
Tell you what, they were lucky they didn't go out to Rosenborg in the quarter finals in '97. If Rosenborg had just been a bit less wasteful in that first leg! (A Rosenborg that beat AC Milan at San Siro to knock them out of the group stages, no less!)
That said, what a team that Juventus side was. Probably the best team of the 90's, even if they only got the one Champions League to show for it. It feels like that's more down to the fact that it was far more crowded at the pointy end than it is these days, rather than a statement to the quality of the Juve side.
That said, what a team that Juventus side was. Probably the best team of the 90's, even if they only got the one Champions League to show for it. It feels like that's more down to the fact that it was far more crowded at the pointy end than it is these days, rather than a statement to the quality of the Juve side.
Whenever I feel sad about losing 2 CL finals v Barca I think of Juve losing 7. Lost all the past 5 finals they played since 96.
Neville and Keane alluded to this aswell
One of the many reasons the Treble was so special was beating them on route to the final. Their midfield was Deschamps, Zidane and Edgar Davids. Just ...wow! Exceptionally tough team.
Insane stat
If you're talking about their recent podcast, if I remember correctly, the only team that fits their intentionally vague description is Milan.
Something like this with Italian teams was alluded to on Stick to Football a few months back, and I'm pretty sure this is who Neville and Keane were talking about.
I think AC Milan probably the best team. That 94 team was unreal.
Was it? I mean, the defense obviously was but their attack was too reliant on Massaro's getting divine inspiration and Savićević's somewhat streaky form.
Fantastic team
This is taking me back decades now but if my shoddy memory recalls, they were unlucky to lose both those finals to Dortmund and Madrid. Not sure if someone can correct me, not arsed to check. The 90’s Serie A teams were different gravy.
From memory the Dortmund final they deserved to lose, they were poor that night. The other 2 finals perhaps they were a bit unlucky.
Overall, one of the best teams of the 90s, absolutely stacked with world class players all over the pitch.
Football Italia on C4 was awesome back then, you got to see these teams and players regularly, so you kind of knew how good they were when it came to CL football.
Yep, magnificent team and Serie A definitely the top league by a mile.
That Dortmund team wasn’t too shabby either but my word, that semi final. We absolutely should have gone through but the amount of chances we wasted…I think that was the 97 SF, right?
They were basically the current Manchester City of the time.
Dominated the Serie A when it was the consensus strongest league in the world, and also reached 3 consecutive CL finals.
However there was also some controversy regarding the refs and doping allegations.
They were the team to beat if you wanted to win the CL.
The title race in 1997/98 Serie A between Juve and Inter was especially wild, Inter had prime Ronaldo in their ranks. But in the end the controversial game between Juve and Inter when the latter was behind only 1 point with 4 games left decided the championship.
Dominated the Serie A when it was the consensus strongest league in the world, and also reached 3 consecutive CL finals.
However there was also some controversy regarding the refs and doping allegations.
They were the team to beat if you wanted to win the CL.
The title race in 1997/98 Serie A between Juve and Inter was especially wild, Inter had prime Ronaldo in their ranks. But in the end the controversial game between Juve and Inter when the latter was behind only 1 point with 4 games left decided the championship.
Great team. Peruzzi, Ferrara, Monteiro, Di Livio, Del Piero, Davids, Deschamps, Zidane…. Great side. Even had the ultimate goal hanger Pippo Inzaghi. The guy that had a linesman in the room with a flag up the day he was born. Had a knack for a goal though.
Roy Keane has hinted at this too. Saying at the end of games against them the United players were exhausted but the Juve players looked like they could go another 90 without trouble. He intimated that everyone felt they were doping.
One of my very best friends grew up in and around the team. His Dad had a senior medical person for Juve throughout the 90s, and I can confirm he told me things that would confirm that supposition. I really can’t go into detail of course. I think doping, as a general practice in football was quite prevalent throughout the 80s and especially 90s. There is also a lot of evidence to suggest it continued on a more sophisticated level through to the mid 2010s, and some might well suspect that it goes on today at a very high level.
Perhaps the greatest club side of all time, Guardiola’s Barca, was almost certainly heavily doped up, and it swept under the carpet by Spanish authorities because it would have affected the national team and their incredible run of trophies around that time.
Roy Keane has hinted at this too. Saying at the end of games against them the United players were exhausted but the Juve players looked like they could go another 90 without trouble. He intimated that everyone felt they were doping.
One of my very best friends grew up in and around the team. His Dad had a senior medical person for Juve throughout the 90s, and I can confirm he told me things that would confirm that supposition. I really can’t go into detail of course. I think doping, as a general practice in football was quite prevalent throughout the 80s and especially 90s. There is also a lot of evidence to suggest it continued on a more sophisticated level through to the mid 2010s, and some might well suspect that it goes on today at a very high level.
Perhaps the greatest club side of all time, Guardiola’s Barca, was almost certainly heavily doped up, and it swept under the carpet by Spanish authorities because it would have affected the national team and their incredible run of trophies around that time.
Real Madrid was also doped in their 3 consecutive CL title run.
Sergio Ramos failed multiple doping tests, including right before the CL final in 2017, but was not punished because football.
In any serious sport that match would be turned to no contest but football is a joke when it comes to taking a stance against PEDs, there is no testing and no punishment either.
I'm convinced that every elite team in Europe is heavily doped, it wouldn't surprise me if every single team in the top 5 leagues has a doping program running, they have the money and it's practically impossible to get caught.
It's only a question of who has the better stuff and a better program.
The striking succession they had in that time was ridiculous.
Baggio was great there but moved on as Del Piero was coming through. Ravanelli scored in 1996 CL final but they moved him on to Boro that summer as they were signing Christian Vieri. Surprisingly he was only there a season before he left for Atletico Madrid and they signed Inzaghi as a replacement. Alen Boksic was also around in those times as a squad striker. They also signed David Trezeguet in 2000!
Can also remember a squad striker called Nicola Amoruso who was there for years but could never quite break through to be first choice, was very similar to Nicola Ventola at Inter Milan. Actually stayed at Juventus until he wa nearly 28.
Incredibly neither Amoruso or Ventola won a full Italian cap despite being regulars in the under 21s so just shows the difference between attacking options in late 90s and now as they'd certainly be in the present Italian squad looking at the options in the euros.
Baggio was great there but moved on as Del Piero was coming through. Ravanelli scored in 1996 CL final but they moved him on to Boro that summer as they were signing Christian Vieri. Surprisingly he was only there a season before he left for Atletico Madrid and they signed Inzaghi as a replacement. Alen Boksic was also around in those times as a squad striker. They also signed David Trezeguet in 2000!
Can also remember a squad striker called Nicola Amoruso who was there for years but could never quite break through to be first choice, was very similar to Nicola Ventola at Inter Milan. Actually stayed at Juventus until he wa nearly 28.
Incredibly neither Amoruso or Ventola won a full Italian cap despite being regulars in the under 21s so just shows the difference between attacking options in late 90s and now as they'd certainly be in the present Italian squad looking at the options in the euros.
Look up Riccardo Agricola
Btw, '99 Lippi was gone, it was Ancelotti trying to salvage the season
Oh yeah, definitely should have beat them, it's the main reason I still hate Dortmund so much, that fecker Heinrich was everywhere, at least I think it was him.
They had a decent team, but like Monaco and Porto later, Utd really should have beat them and made it to the final.
I always got the feeling that some of the late '80s and '90s Italian coaches were heavily influenced by the seminar's/coaching round tables and friendly game invitations Lobanovsky used to set up during Dynamo and ussr's regular winter training camps in Italy, especially after the Euro 88 game. Lippi actually directly spoke of him as an influence and you can see it quickly in his Juventus, with their style of pressing, sophisticated directness and overloads, though Juventus could take it to a more regular and greater extreme with their stronger and deeper squad....and sadly the high chance they were on cutting-edge peds.
The answer to this thread can be summed up in this video:
People rightly talk about 1999, but beating them 3:2 in the group stage in 1997 was also a big stepping stone, after the two defeats the previous season.
You can't win one CL final out of three and be anything but a pathetic loser!
I know about him and I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if Juve were doping. But I’m replying to the supposed Neville & Keane’s allegations — if all of the details that they’ve shared are correct, I’m pretty sure that they’re talking about Milan, not Juve.
He didn’t. They went out of their way not to say the team’s name but Gary stated multiple times that it was mid 00’s.
They were the team to beat and highly revered throughout Europe, and were the domestic dominators in a league which had a media magnate/Italian PM running AC Milan, an oil billionaire running Inter Milan, a food conglomerate running Lazio and another oil billionaire running Roma, all of which were throwing insane money around like there was no tomorrow.
Don't forget that Parma team....sublime!
You’re right in that he didn’t name the team. He said “Italian clubs we played against” or words to that effect.
Amazing run. Bayern and Barca in the group of death, then R9s inter, the behemoth that was juventus in the semis, then Bayern in the final. None of this ‘getting Tottenham in the final’ Scouse bullshit!
Pretty great and to be honest I think they should have won at least one more European title, the one against Madrid to be exact.
One could argue that it was they and not the preceding milan side that were the greatest side of 90s, as their league hull was more consistent and the competition in serie a back then was simply outstanding perhaps even better than the early 90s.
They had a very controversial league title win if I'm not mistaken however, it involved Inter milan and accusations of ref bribery.
One could argue that it was they and not the preceding milan side that were the greatest side of 90s, as their league hull was more consistent and the competition in serie a back then was simply outstanding perhaps even better than the early 90s.
They had a very controversial league title win if I'm not mistaken however, it involved Inter milan and accusations of ref bribery.
To beat them, you had to be the best you've ever been on the night.
Look at Neville hear when he heard they got through the groups.
To be fair, they were an Italian club in the 90s, so you have to ask why they were so good (allegedly)
Look at Neville hear when he heard they got through the groups.
To be fair, they were an Italian club in the 90s, so you have to ask why they were so good (allegedly)
For about 5 years, they were the benchmark of European football. They were the team you wanted to beat.
I miss our games with Juve. Even in 2003 they were great.
I miss our games with Juve. Even in 2003 they were great.
They were incredible, some of the best games i watched was against them, one of Giggsy best performance against them too.
I always like the fact that they topped a group with 1 win and 5 draws in 1999.... it might not be unique or anything for all I know, but it lives in my memory 
I’d go as far as saying they were comfortably the best team I ever seen Manchester United beat in the CL.
I had that Juventus team as the very best club team I had seen until Pep’s Barca came along.
They were multi dimensional in a sense that they could out scrap anyone, outplay anyone, outrun anyone.
The first time I felt United could really win the European cup was when we beat them 3-2 early in the 97/98 season with that cracking Sheringham header.
Then, the following season the 3-2 in the semi finals to this day, my favorite ever Manchester United performance, it was unthinkable at the time to come back from 0-2 down against that lot, they were so so good.
To me at the time, that win felt as if we already won the Champions League regardless of what happened in the final, because we beat by far the best team on the planet, on their own turf.
Italian football was leagues ahead of English football at the time, it almost felt like a “changing of the guards” moment.
The classic “Gary Neville loves Juventus” video really sums up how good they were, a 10 second video is worth more than a thousand words.
Actually remarkable how our lads pulled those last couple of weeks of the treble season off, a squad of what, 16 players? Incredible times, wouldn’t exchange that season for another 5 European Cups, not a chance, all the post SAF era is just karmic debt for that season I reckon.
Worth it, so worth it.
Roy Keane played against Milan twice I think in 2005?, both him and Neville played against that Juventus 6 times between 96 and 99.
I had that Juventus team as the very best club team I had seen until Pep’s Barca came along.
They were multi dimensional in a sense that they could out scrap anyone, outplay anyone, outrun anyone.
The first time I felt United could really win the European cup was when we beat them 3-2 early in the 97/98 season with that cracking Sheringham header.
Then, the following season the 3-2 in the semi finals to this day, my favorite ever Manchester United performance, it was unthinkable at the time to come back from 0-2 down against that lot, they were so so good.
To me at the time, that win felt as if we already won the Champions League regardless of what happened in the final, because we beat by far the best team on the planet, on their own turf.
Italian football was leagues ahead of English football at the time, it almost felt like a “changing of the guards” moment.
The classic “Gary Neville loves Juventus” video really sums up how good they were, a 10 second video is worth more than a thousand words.
Actually remarkable how our lads pulled those last couple of weeks of the treble season off, a squad of what, 16 players? Incredible times, wouldn’t exchange that season for another 5 European Cups, not a chance, all the post SAF era is just karmic debt for that season I reckon.
Worth it, so worth it.
When I listened to it I instantly was thinking of that Juventus.
Roy Keane played against Milan twice I think in 2005?, both him and Neville played against that Juventus 6 times between 96 and 99.
If they were, then everyone should do it. Footballers get paid enough, legalize it.
“That lad must have been born offside”Inzagi would have goal total halved if was play today
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They also signed Marcelo Salas for €28.5 million in 2001 (that's like a 100 million signing today) but never did anything for them, a massive flop.