two painful Champions League final defeats with
Juventus by finally winning the competition for the
first time in his illustrious career.
The veteran goalkeeper played a key role in Juve's
2-0 semi-final first-leg win in Monaco, making five
saves as Gonzalo Higuain struck twice at the other
end, with a meeting against Real Madrid in the
decider now seemingly inevitable.
The Bianconeri set a club record by recording their
sixth successive clean sheet in the Champions
League with that victory and Buffon is keen to
make up for the disappointment of losing finals to
AC Milan in 2003 and Barcelona two years ago.
"There's definitely a desire to make up for losing
the [2015] final in Berlin, but I also have to make
amends for Manchester in 2003, so going back
through the years my motivation is a lot deeper,"
Buffon told UEFA.com.
"In 2015, we lost it at a moment when Barcelona
were on the ropes. We let in a goal almost on the
counter-attack: [Lionel] Messi hammered a shot on
goal, I diverted it and [Luis] Suarez scored.
"Losing on penalties in 2003 was very painful, but
since I was only 25, I was fairly calm because I
was convinced I'd win many more. That's the
exuberance of youth. I was so close to winning it
on that occasion; they missed three penalties in
that final - I saved two of them. Strange things
happen. It wasn't meant to be and we weren't good
enough. In sport and life, those who deserve it
more probably end up getting their rewards.
"After the return leg [in the quarter-finals] against
Barcelona this season I was very happy, of course,
but I did not celebrate too much, because I know
that after a certain point you either win the trophy
or get disappointed. And since I have been
disappointed so many times, I want to get the
victory before allowing myself to celebrate.
"It would mean a lot for me. It would be the
greatest joy of my career, together with the [2006]
World Cup, because it would almost be a reward -
the end of a very difficult road paved by bravery,
stubbornness and hard work. I have always wanted
to win it and I have always been convinced that I
can do it together with my team, the fans, my
colleagues. That would be great."
At the age of 39 Buffon is coming towards the end
of his career, but the Italy international is enjoying
testing himself against the next generation,
including Monaco's brilliant teenage striker Kylian
Mbappe, who is 21 years his junior.
"Mbappe was born in December 1998 - I had
already played at the World Cup in France by then,"
added Buffon, who is expected to make his 150th
UEFA competition appearance in Juve's semi-final
second leg against Monaco on Tuesday.
"That's the nice thing about having such a long
career: meeting kids who weren't even born when
you already had a chunk of your career under your
belt.
"I was thinking the other day that I've managed to
span almost three generations. When I started
playing, you still had guys born in the end of the
1950s and the 1960s – and I'll finish with guys
born in the 2000s. It's a huge span of time.
"It's nice knowing that I'm playing with the future
Messis, Cristiano Ronaldos and Neymars, because
in 10 years, after I have been retired for a while,
they will be confirmed superstars and I'll remember
facing them at the dawn of their careers."
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