Panucci wants Lippi peace

Saturday 28 January, 2006

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Christian Panucci admits his pride has kept him out of the Italy squad, but hopes to shelve his feud with Marcello Lippi for the World Cup.

“When we were together at Inter, I admit I didn’t collaborate much with Lippi,” confessed the Roma defender.


“He made some mistakes too. In the last two months, we literally didn’t speak to each other and I was the one who refused to open the channels of communication. It was an error, one of many that were made that year, because our reciprocal pride drove a wedge between us.”


The feud between the two men has been common knowledge since Panucci walked out on Inter for a move to Monaco in 2000 and has carried on following Lippi’s appointment to the Italy post.


Panucci hasn’t represented his country since the 2-1 win over Bulgaria in June 2004, seemingly ending a career that saw six goals and 70 caps. However, he leaves a sliver of hope that the Lippi row could be shelved for the World Cup this summer.


“If I should continue playing well, then I hope Lippi will call me for the Italy squad, although I am not used to asking anyone for help. If he brings me along to Germany, then that’ll be because I earned it. If he doesn’t, then that’s fine with me.”


Panucci has been contributing to an incredible surge in form for Roma over the last few weeks and some have suggested that Antonio Cassano’s move to Real Madrid opened the floodgates for five consecutive Serie A victories and Thursday’s shock 3-2 Coppa Italia win at Juventus.


“Cassano wasn’t happy recently and didn’t want to be part of the squad, so he’d isolate himself and I think he was right to leave,” he told Sky Italia.


“Antonio has a strong personality and I think it’s true to a degree that his unhappiness affected the rest of the players. But it is not right to say Roma’s problems were purely tied up in Cassano’s situation.”

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