Pirlo´s Supercoppa joy ´more beautiful´ than as a player

Juventus head coach Andrea Pirlo felt lifting his first silverware as a boss was “more beautiful” than his numerous playing successes.

Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Alvaro Morata either side of a missed Lorenzo Insigne penalty gave Juve a 2-0 win over Napoli in Reggio Emilia on Wednesday.

Pirlo won the Champions League and World Cup in a decorated playing career but said the feeling of leading a team to a trophy is something different.

“It’s a great joy,” Pirlo, who replaced Maurizio Sarri at the start of the season, told Rai Sport. “Lifting the first trophy as a coach is something different, more beautiful than as a player.

“I’m at the helm of an important team, of a historic club.”

First trophy for the boss! #SUPERJUVE #JuveNapoli #PS5Supercup #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/kaK78V4Vk7

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That burden looked to be weighing heavily last weekend after a 2-0 defeat at rivals Inter left Serie A champions Juventus 10 points off the pace in the Scudetto race.

“The important thing was to win after the other night’s knockout,” Pirlo said.

“We wanted to show that we weren’t the ones from San Siro. We needed a game of sacrifice.”

Pirlo shared a warm embrace with his great friend and Napoli coach Gennaro Gattuso before kick-off, remarking this was no time to reprise their infamous history of play fighting and practical jokes.

“Tonight just hugs because we were too focused,” he added.