Stephan Lichtsteiner, the “Swiss Express” and scorer of the first historic goal at the Allianz Stadium, sat down with La Gazzetta dello Sport (as quoted by IlBianconero) to share memories from his Juventus career, his experiences under Antonio Conte, and the choices that defined his loyalty to the Bianconeri.
Conte’s Influence and Juventus’ Winning Edge
Lichtsteiner recalled his early days under Antonio Conte, highlighting the intensity and detail-oriented approach that set Juventus apart.
“The training sessions with Conte were very tough. But that’s not what stuck with me the most. Antonio would send you onto the pitch knowing everything: what the opponents would do, how to act in specific tactical situations. We had something extra. Playing for Juventus is completely different, and Conte made us understand that. He told us that to go down in history, you have to win. At the start of the first year, only he believed we could do something great. We trusted him, and in the last two months, we were absolutely convinced we could do it.”
The First Goal at the Allianz Stadium
Reflecting on his place in club history, Lichtsteiner said:
“I prefer to be remembered for the seven Scudetti. That goal was important because in the summer friendlies something wasn’t working, and winning gave us confidence. With Pirlo, there was a special connection: if I made the run at the right time, the ball would arrive. It was natural, we didn’t even practice it much in training. I didn’t even need to call for the ball because Andrea sees everything.”
Champions League Omissions
Lichtsteiner addressed the disappointment of being left out of the Champions League squad twice under Massimiliano Allegri:
“Those were Allegri’s choices, but in both cases I was back in by January. I was upset, but negative things happen in life; you just have to know how to react.”
Buffon’s Anger After Real Madrid
He also recalled the infamous Champions League clash with Real Madrid:
“I’ve never seen Buffon so angry. But the real regret should be for the 0-3 in the first leg: we were strong and that shouldn’t have happened. Of course, the referee’s decision was wrong, but that’s part of football. It wasn’t right, but you have to accept it.”
Turning Down Inter
Lichtsteiner’s loyalty to Juventus was tested when Inter Milan showed interest:
“It was a matter of integrity. I love Juventus and I couldn’t play for Inter. Now I suffer as a fan, but I think we’ll get back to winning.”
The Enduring Juventus Mentality
When asked what remains from his years at Juventus, Lichtsteiner was clear:
“The mentality. You have to give your all, win, enjoy the moment, and immediately start giving your all again for the next victory. There are players made for Juve and others, even if talented, who aren’t. In the first group are those who can handle the stress and have the clarity to go beyond the result or the moment, who send the right messages to their teammates, who truly understand what it means to wear that shirt, learn from those who came before, and teach those who come after.”
