In a recent interview with Gazzetta, former Juventus player Salvatore Fresi reflected on his time with the club and the memorable 2002-2003 season. He recalled a star-studded squad featuring formidable defenders like Ferrara, Thuram, Montero, Iuliano, and Tudor, with Gianluigi Buffon in goal. The attack boasted talents such as Salas, Di Vaio, Del Piero, and Trezeguet, while the midfield was anchored by Conte, Camoranesi, Nedved, and Davids.
Despite this impressive lineup and winning the Italian championship, the team faced disappointment in the Champions League final in Manchester, ultimately losing the match. Fresi particularly lamented the absence of Pavel Nedved in that crucial game. Nedved was suspended after receiving a yellow card in the semifinal against Real Madrid, even though Juventus held a comfortable 3-0 lead at that moment. Fresi firmly believes that Nedved, who he described as “unmarkable” at the time, would have been the decisive factor. “With him,” Fresi stated, “we would have beaten Milan.”
Fresi was also asked about the controversial incident involving Ronaldo and Iuliano during a different match. He gave a concise response, asserting that the tackle was never acknowledged as irregular, not even once, and that no one involved ever claimed it was. He concluded by saying, “Let`s leave it at that.”