This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
June 18, 2020
Cristiano Ronaldo, popularly known as Cr7, has now lost two finals in a row for the first time in his glittering and trophy-laden club career.
On December 2019, Ronaldo (playing for Juve) lost his first final in Saudi Arabia when Lazio deservedly beat Juventus 3-1 to win an entertaining Italian Super Cup game in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
However, it was not just the Italian Super Cup that Ronaldo lost. On Wednesday night, a worthy Napoli side lifted the Coppa Italia title with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out triumph over Juventus and former coach Maurizio Sarri on Wednesday night following a barren draw in normal time.
Playmaker Paulo Dybala and Danilo missed Juve’s first two efforts in the shootout while Napoli converted all their attempts to win the trophy for the sixth time.
Gennaro Gattuso first major trophy as a coach ended Juve’s hopes of securing the treble in the 2019/20 season.
Ronaldo, who has won 31 trophies in his career, had a frustrating night as Napoli dominated Juve from the beginning of the much-awaited showdown.
Speaking to journalists after the match, the fiery Gattuso felt Napoli players were rewarded because of the hard work in training throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
"Whoever does this job must have respect for it. We are lucky. This is why I get angry; there must be passion, respect, seriousness. Then there is a God of football who rewards you when you work well,” said an elated Gattuso.
On his part, the embattled Juve coach Maurizio Sarri challenged his attackers led by Ronaldo to be more clinical in front of goal for better results.
Sarri said Ronaldo and his other attackers are lacking the level of fitness required after not playing competitive matches for more than three months.
