Players stand by Lippi
Tuesday 23 May, 2006

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Luca Toni and Daniele De Rossi are delighted that the Italian
Football Federation have backed boss Marcello Lippi.

The tactician was given a vote of confidence by FIGC commissioner
Guido Rossi on Monday despite being embroiled in the telephone
interception scandal.

And both Azzurri stars have breathed a huge sigh of relief after the
Coach was confirmed in his place for Germany 2006.

"We are all with our Coach, starting from me," said the Fiorentina
striker. "He brought me into the national side and I owe him a lot.

"Lippi has proven himself to be a good and prepared tactician and I
don't see any reason why there should be a problem with him being
here.

"He's done very well up to this point and it is only right that he
is the one who leads us in Germany," added Toni.

"The strength of this group is the team spirit that we have and that
was transmitted to the players by Lippi himself."

Some sections of the media at the weekend had called for the former
Juventus man to quit, with Giovanni Trapattoni, Claudio Gentile and
Carlo Ancelotti all suggested as possible emergency appointments for
the World Cup.

However, Roma midfielder De Rossi insists that he didn't think that
the Azzurri would have to deal with such a situation.

"I never thought that there was a possibility that Lippi would
quit," said the former Under-21 international.

"To change now would have been a damaging factor. It was pleasing
that Guido Rossi stood by Lippi's side."

One of the main allegations hanging over Lippi at the moment is the
claim that he was pressured into selecting certain players by former
Juve director general Luciano Moggi.

The tactician himself again denied that suggestion yesterday and De
Rossi doesn't doubt him for a minute.

"There are no players in this squad sent by others," he noted. "I
think that those here deserve it."