Juventus goal machine Paulo Dybala turns focus to Champions League clash with Olympiakos

Sport360 staff 14:31 26/09/2017
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  • Juventus’s deadliest weapon Paulo Dybala warned “everything is going my way” as the rising Argentine star turns his focus to Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Greek champions Olympiakos.

    Long hailed as the heir to national teammate Lionel Messi the 23-year-old is the leading striker in domestic league action across Europe bagging ten goals — including two hat-tricks — in six Serie A games.

    “At the moment everything is going my way, and we’re still at the start, I hope to continue like this,” said the player dubbed ‘The Jewel’ who arrived in Turin from Palermo in 2015.

    “I’m in a period of great confidence. I’ve changed mentally, I want to grow and improve to go as far as possible.”

    Against Olympiakos he will look to open his tally in Europe after Juventus fell 3-0 to Messi’s Barcelona in their curtain raiser.

    His style of play has changed this season with coach Massimiliano Allegri giving the livewire forward freedom to follow his instincts in the number 10 jersey worn by club legends such as Michel Platini, Roberto Baggio and Alessandro Del Piero.

    “I like this system at Juve, because the coach gives me room to move,” he said.

    Diminutive, dynamic and armed with a deadly left foot, Dybala could be a prototype of a Messi clone.

    The similarities between the two Argentines have been noted by Dybala’s strike partner Gonzalo Higuain among others.

    And Dybala credits five-time world player of the year Messi as a source of inspiration.

    “Luckily I have the chance to play with Messi in the national team,” he said ahead of the Barcelona defeat.

    “It is a privilege to have him as a teammate and for sure I can learn a lot from him.

    “How he interprets the game, how he sees things, how he thinks, how he sees the movement of his teammates.”

    The player from Cordoba is also honoured to be compared to greats such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.

    “We are talking about Messi and Cristiano who have incredible numbers that no other player has reached. And another in Neymar who in every game shows incredible things.

    “It’s a huge honour. It means I am working well and the people see something in me that can develop in the future.”

    The fact that Argentina now looks for the next Messi rather than the next Diego Maradona is a testament to the five-time world player of the year’s achievements.

    Hundreds of talented number 10s were christened as Maradona’s heir before Messi.

    “Messi is the best, he shows it every day,” said Higuain. “Paulo is still young. He is 23 and has the world at his feet.”

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