Today, Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri spoke to the media ahead of the Derby D’Italia.
The first question of the press conference was regarding the impact of his side’s most recent Champions League clash,:
After the taxing game on Tuesday, how do you get your players to refocus for the league? Does it help to be playing a big team like Inter?
“It’s simple. We only played the first of two games therefore we’ve done absolutely nothing so far. We obtained a good result against Bayern and we still have a chance at progressing to the next round but the return leg is in thirty days. Tomorrow, we have a difficult game against a physical Inter side, the table doesn’t matter. Our objective is clear: Win again after two consecutive draws against Bologna and Bayern and remain at the top of the table. Then on Wednesday we must play to reach the Coppa Italia final for the second consecutive time. The Champions League, for now, well until the 12th of March, we don’t have time to think about it.”
In the first round of games, Inter almost always win and you guys were in a crisis. Did you expect their fall?
“They are still in the fight for third place. The league is still very open as it’s not only a question of Juventus and Napoli. Roma are only eight points behind us while Fiorentina are six. There are 12 games left, we can’t talk about a finished league. Roma are coming off five or six consecutive wins and have the potential to finish strongly on nearly 86 points, just like Fiorentina and Napoli. We’ll take it game by game. Tomorrow, it’s the derby D’Italia. I didn’t expect their fall. They started really well. Let’s not forget where we were and where they were after ten games. As there are still 12 games left we need to keep our feet on the ground. We need to look to win tomorrow as it would mean that we would need one less win for the Scudetto.”
Does the approach change when playing the same team in the span of three days?
“Absolutely nothing changes, we have to be fully focused on what our objectives are. Tomorrow, three points are on the line while on Wednesday we go into the game with a 3-0 lead. We’ll first think of tomorrow’s game and then shift our attention to the game on Wednesday.”
How will you set your team up?
“I don’t even know this. They are a physical team therefore we will need to play extremely well technically and with speed. Tuesday was a nice night as we were losing 2-0 and came back. The guys were exceptional but we must improve tomorrow. Two things we need to improve in Europe are our technique and the speed of our passes. You can’t always think of playing physical in Europe because you’ll play Bayern, Barcelona and Real Madrid. When it comes to formations, it’s all relative. The important thing is to play well and to control the game.”
Are you happy that Chelsea are looking elsewhere now? Are you preoccupied that their future manager Antonio Conte will have 150 million pounds to buy your players as the tabloids are reporting?
“Now we can’t talk about the transfer window, it’s closed. I head Allegri this, Allegri that. What I have in my head, no one knows. When I hear that Allegri’s going to Chelsea, I smile. Allegri chooses where he wants to go like I always have. I’m happy to be with Juventus, we are working to give this team a future. This year we’re looking to win the fifth consecutive Scudetto which would be extraordinary. The guys would forever go into the club’s history books. We’re working to reach our second consecutive Coppa Italia final and to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League. More than this we cannot do.”
Can Chiellini play? Marotta said on TV that you guys will meet to discuss a renewal. Would that make you happy?
“In regards to what Marotta said, it brings me pleasure even because I’ve always said that I’m fine here. However, it’s not the time to talk about these things. The time will come because we surely need to delineate the future plans. Chiellini is feeling good. We only have Marchisio missing for a couple of days and Caceres. Everyone else has recovered and is feeling good. Some are less fit than others as they have trained less.”
But if Marotta offered you a renewal in an hour, would you renew?
“In an hour no because I have practice. Before we must also eat. After tomorrow’s game it’s impossible because we play Inter again. But I’ve never had problems with the club. Juventus are one of the strongest teams in Europe. There’s a project here and the new team is taking shape. I have a duty to help the players and make Juventus win.
What would happen if Tavecchio called you to coach the national team?
“They were already saying that I had to go with the national team after my time with Milan. I don’t understand why you would want to get rid of me from Juventus, I’m happy here. Other than me there are many other managers with more experience to become the national team manager. Also, they already have a coach so I don’t understand the rumours. There’s Conte, leave him manage the team for the Euros then we’ll see. If he leaves, he leaves. I know what I have to do, not the others.”
Buffon said that a crucial part of the season was the first game against Inter at the San Siro because they didn’t take the opportunity to end your season. How were you able to resist? Do you agree with Gigi?
“Resist what? They never took a shot on goal while we had chances. We were going through a difficult time. Gigi wanted to say that in that moment Inter could have taken advantage of us but the guys had an important reaction. To go to the San Siro and play like that it meant that sooner or later the team was going to break out of their slump. No one imagine us winning 15 consecutive games but the quality to return to fighting for the Scudetto was there.”
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