Juventus vs AS Roma preview - Vucinic ready to shut Zeman up

Juventus striker Mirko Vucinic has volunteered to put Zdenek Zeman in his place when the outspoken Roma boss arrives in Turin.

The Czech tactician has harboured a career-long dislike of the Bianconeri and recently reignited the feud with derogatory comments about suspended head coach Antonio Conte.

As a result, Juve fans and players alike have little time for the veteran coach, with the mutual distrust usually leading to feisty affairs when Zeman comes to Piedmont.

Former Roma forward Vucinic, who played under Zeman at Lecce in 2006, told the Corriere dello Sport: "I scored 19 league goals for him and I'm grateful for what he did for me.

"He taught me a lot but I've changed a lot since then and every manager I've worked with has taught me something new.

"It's not like taking on any other team. The only thing on our minds is winning.

"We've been training hard for this and we live to win."

Vucinic moved to the Juventus Stadium after five successful years in the capital city and confessed that football was not his only motivation for switching clubs.

"Life in Rome was like a pressure cooker whereas in Turin it's very different, people leave you in peace," he added.

"I had a lot of friends at Roma and I still keep in touch with them. (Daniele) De Rossi called me before training and we'll have a chat before kick-off.

"But out on the pitch, we'll be enemies. We've had a lot of battles on the Playstation, I think we've practised more on there than we have in training.

"Is (Andrea) Pirlo tired? He looks great to me, he's the only player who always has two opponents tracking him, sometimes even three.

"In my opinion he's absolutely world-class."

While an entire stadium focuses on Zeman's antics, Francesco Totti's thoughts will turn to his absent friend and former sparring partner Alessandro Del Piero.

The Roma striker is worried that he is among a dying breed of Serie A greats following Del Piero's move to Australian club Sydney FC.

The 36-year-old told the Gazzetta dello Sport: "It is going to be a little strange to play Juventus without Del Piero.

"I would have liked to face him again so we could retire together.

"Without doubt he will be missed in Italian football but the important thing is, I'm still here!"