Buffon fired up for Champions League return

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has described his frustration at hearing the Champions League anthem only ‘from the sofa’ in recent years.

After missing out on playing in the tournament since 2009, the Italy captain has been an envious onlooker of the competition as Juve played in the Europa League in 2010/11 and missed out on Europe altogether last season.

“That piece of music? I’ll be glad to hear it again,” Buffon told Corriere dello Sport.

“I’ve had to listen to it from my sofa over these years and I didn’t think that was right.”

Juventus begin their campaign against last year’s winners Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday, and will be hoping to get off to a winning start.

The new Serie A season has again been disrupted by allegations of corruption in Italy, with Juve coach Antonio Conte implicated, but Buffon believes the Turin side can remain focused and stay competitive.

“We have to get back to that certain mentality, that ferocity, of last year,” he said.