Manninger is making the most of second coming

AMONG the celebrating Juventus players following their Champions League win over Real Madrid 10 days ago were a handful of former Premier League players: one time Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg replaced Nicola Legrottaglie at half-time, and he high-fived ex-Liverpool midfielder Momo Sissoko, who had been immense in midfield, as the pair trooped off the pitch.

In front of them, barely speaking to anyone, was Gigi Buffon’s stand-in as goalkeeper and a player for whom luck has been in short supply of late, Alex Manninger.

The Austrian still looks like the 20-year-old he was when he joined Arsenal in 1997, and made seven appearances as the Gunners won the title in his debut season in England.