No regrets for Vieira over Juve move(theo World Soccer News)
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http://www.wldcup.com/news/2006Mar/20060327_35323_world_soccer.html)
Patrick Vieira returned to Highbury insisting he'd no regrets regarding his pre-season move from Arsenal to Juventus.
The French international, who is set to start Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg against his old employers, spent nine years in north London and led Arsenal to some of their most memorable triumphs.
Vieira, 29, accumulated three Premiership titles and three FA Cups after moving from AC Milan in 1996 but severed his ties with the Gunners in 2005 with a 13.7 million pounds transfer to the Stadio della Alpi.
The Senegal-born midfielder is still revered at Highbury, but he is refusing to allow nostalgia to cloud his focus as he prepares to confront his former manager and mentor Arsene Wenger.
"When you spend nine years anywhere and win so much, do so well and make so much history, you are very proud," Vieira told reporters. "But I never regret any decision that I make.
"I have no nerves at all and I think I have enough experience to deal with the game: the emotions can come afterwards.
"I know what to expect and my only focus is to win the match and play well so we can qualify for the semi-finals. I only think on Juventus. Ever since pre-season, I have only thought about what I can achieve with them."
Vieira was reluctant to dwell on his emotions at returning to the club he led so impressively and for so long.
He appeared ill at ease when asked to describe how he felt at walking into Highbury as an opposition player and at one point curtly dismissed a question relating to his Arsenal career with the response: "That is all in the past - I don't want to talk about that".
Patrick Vieira tells the press at Highbury that he has had no regrets regarding his pre-season move Vieira from Arsenal to Juventus
But Vieira will find the past difficult to escape when he returns to this famous old stadium on Tuesday night.
Pictures of him celebrating league and cup triumphs adorn the walls at Highbury, including one of Vieira scoring the last, decisive penalty in the shoot-out which settled the 2005 FA Cup Final against Manchester United.
It was his final act in an Arsenal shirt: eight weeks later, he left for Serie A.
Arsenal initially struggled to cope with the loss of their talismanic leader but the shoots of recovery are now beginning to show.
Wenger's team may still only be fifth in the Premiership but they have won three of their last four matches and disposed of Real Madrid in the first knockout stage of the Champions League.
"I am a bit surprised that they haven't done better this season because they have the quality and the players to do well," added Vieira. "But the season is long and there are many games to go yet.
"They are a very good side and they are playing well at the moment but we just have to show that we are better."
Juventus manager Fabio Cappello, who revealed right-back Jonathan Zebina would be fit to start on Tuesday, admitted he would call upon Vieira's intimate knowledge of Arsenal in a bid to reach the last four.
"Arsenal have many good players,"but of course Patrick Vieira can always help me," he said.
"I believe every side at this stage of the Champions League is a very good one. Arsenal are a very good attacking side, especially with Thierry Henry, and it will be difficult."
