Massimiliano Allegri

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Allegri: 'Juve need humility'

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/88860/allegri-juve-need-humility?

 

 

Aug 6, 2016

 

Coach Max Allegri warns that Juventus will need 'self-awareness and humility' and promises Gonzalo Higuain will play tomorrow.

 

The Bianconeri are still finding their ideal form, and they'll be playing a friendly against West Ham tomorrow at 13:00 Uk time as part of that process.

 

“They played the preliminary of the Europa League and they'll certainly be in a better condition than us,” Allegri told the Press. “Everyone will be available but [Stephan] Lichtsteiner, who has a bad back.

 

“We haven't been working together very long, and some players have done a month of work while others only 10 days. We had some training sessions together, others in separation.

 

“The team's quality, technically speaking, is markedly higher. This doesn't mean that the Scudetto is in our pockets, much less the Champions League final, absolutely not.

 

“We need to be aware of our strength but above all we need the humility that is necessary to win the championship. We'll have to reach March still fighting in all competitions, and fighting to win.

 

“We'll face many combative teams that want to challenge the Juventus hegemony.”

 

Allegri promised that new signing Gonzalo Higuain would be on the pitch tomorrow.

 

“You'll see him, and not just for a few minutes. Juventus carried out a great market campaign, signing five new and excellent players.

 

“But integrating five new players is never easy. They have different characteristics than the ones we worked with and they don't know each other. This year we'll have to do that faster, it can't take us 10 games like last season. Even though we did win the Supercoppa.”

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Allegri: 'Pogba is a Juventus player'

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/88861/allegri-pogba-juventus-player?

 

 

Aug 6, 2016

 

Max Allegri won't talk of replacements for Manchester United target Paul Pogba: 'There's no point, he's a Juventus player'.

 

The rumours surrounding the Frenchman's departure keep piling up as his holidays near the end, and he will not be available for tomorrow's friendly against West Ham.

 

In the absence of Pogba, the Coach is designing a different type of team, one he certainly doesn't lack the players for.

 

“Dani Alves is coupled with Lichtsteiner, whether there's a three- or four-man backline,” said Allegri.

 

“Pjanic is a player who can play in front of the defence, or as a mezzala, although I do believe that his most appropriate role is the former. He should always be in the midst of the game.

 

“Pjaca is a young lad with enormous qualities, he can play as a winger and also as a trequartista.

 

“Benatia? You already know him, I think, because he played in Serie A. Higuain was the top scorer last year, so he completes a very strong attack department alongside Mandzukic, Dybala, Zaza and the above-mentioned Pjaca.

 

“Tomorrow we'll play with a four-man defence, and I'll give you the formation now, so everyone's happy: Buffon; Dani Alves, Benatia, Rugani, Alex Sandro; Lemina, Pjanic, Asamoah; Pereyra; Dybala, Mandzukic. Neto will be subbed on for the second half.”

 

There is a great deal of speculation surrounding Paul Pogba, who is believed to be on the verge of signing for Manchester United.

 

“It's only fair that Mourinho should choose not to talk of Pogba as long as he's a Juventus player. I called up Pogba for tomorrow evening, so he'll be in Vinovo for training on Monday. There's no point in discussing replacements for Pogba because right now he's a Juventus player.”

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Allegri: ‘Marchisio back in October’

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/88865/allegri-‘marchisio-back-october’

 

 

Aug 6, 2016

 

Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri expects Claudio Marchisio to return to action in October.

 

The Italian international ruptured his cruciate ligament toward the end of last season, missing out on Euro 2016 with Italy.

 

“Marchisio’s recovery is progressing well,” Allegri assured in a Press conference.

 

“He’s started running and he worked with the ball. I think the recovery time is estimated for October.

 

“The difference between the start of October and the end of October is a difference of 30 days so we’ll say the middle of October!”

 

The Bianconeri have made it clear they’re targeting the Champions League this season, but Allegri warns it won’t be easy.

 

“As I’ve often said, from when I first arrived at Juventus and talked about the Champions League, the Champions League is a competition apart.

 

“It’s normal that when you raise the technical level of the team, you’ll have a greater chance of fighting for the Champions League.

 

“The Champions League is decided in March, and in March you have to be in top condition, both physically and mentally.

 

“Above all, it also takes a bit of luck because if they day before [a game] you get four players getting ill with flu, it’s normal that you then have four players less for the Champions League.

“When you play a home leg and an away leg in the Champions League, you have no chance to make up for things so incidents become decisive.

 

“Juventus have always been obliged to aim for the best, because we all have the ambition to raise the bar and aim for the ultimate objective.

 

“As recently as a year and a half ago, Juventus played in a Champions League final.”

 

As a former Milan Coach, the tactician was also asked about Silvio Berlusconi selling the club to a Chinese consortium.

 

“First of all, in the end it turned out that I was the last Coach to win a trophy with the President, who I thank for giving me four important years in my career.

“He gave me the opportunity to Coach Milan and win. What I regret most of all is the fact that Italian football has lost a President who made history with Milan and has written a part of the history of Italian football.

 

“As for foreign investors, we’re at the point of total globalisation. It’s normal that for China football is an important vehicle, it has tremendous value on a social and political level.”

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Allegri: Pogba will be training at Vinovo on

Monday, Marchisio to return in October

 

Manager’s comments before team flew off to London

 

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/8/7/12393228/allegri-pogba-

training-camp-vinovo-juventus-on-monday-marchisio-return-injury-october

 

 

Aug 7, 2016

 

Juventus jetted out earlier today to England for a friendly game tomorrow against Premier League side West Ham United at their new Olympic Stadium home. In a press conference before the flight, manager Massimiliano Allegri spoke about midfielders Paul Pogba and Claudio Marchisio, as well as the traveling squad.

On replacements for Pogba -

“There's no point, he's a Juventus player. It's only fair that Jose Mourinho should choose not to talk of Pogba as long as he's a Juventus player.

“I called up Pogba for tomorrow evening, so he'll be in Vinovo for training on Monday. There's no point in discussing replacements for Pogba because right now he's a Juventus player.”

On the players he has been using in the preseason -

“Dani Alves is coupled with Stephan Lichtsteiner, whether there's a three- or four-man backline.

“Miralem Pjanic is a player who can play in front of the defence, or as a mezzala, although I do believe that his most appropriate role is the former. He should always be in the midst of the game.

“Marko Pjaca is a young lad with enormous qualities, he can play as a winger and also as a trequartista.

“Medhi Benatia? You already know him, I think, because he played in Serie A. Gonzalo Higuain was the top scorer last year, so he completes a very strong attack department alongside Mario Mandzukic, Paulo Dybala, Simone Zaza and the above-mentioned Pjaca.

“Tomorrow we'll play with a four-man defence, and I'll give you the formation now, so everyone's happy: Buffon; Dani Alves, Benatia, Rugani, Alex Sandro; Lemina, Pjanic, Asamoah; Pereyra; Dybala, Mandzukic. Neto will be subbed on for the second half.”

On Marchisio’s recovery from his ligament surgery -

“Marchisio’s recovery is progressing well. He’s started running and he worked with the ball. I think the recovery time is estimated for October.

“The difference between the start of October and the end of October is a difference of 30 days so we’ll say the middle of October!”

On Juve’s Champions League focus -

“As I’ve often said, from when I first arrived at Juventus and talked about the Champions League, the Champions League is a competition apart.

“It’s normal that when you raise the technical level of the team, you’ll have a greater chance of fighting for the Champions League.

“The Champions League is decided in March, and in March you have to be in top condition, both physically and mentally.

“Above all, it also takes a bit of luck because if they day before [a game] you get four players getting ill with flu, it’s normal that you then have four players less for the Champions League.

“When you play a home leg and an away leg in the Champions League, you have no chance to make up for things so incidents become decisive.

“Juventus have always been obliged to aim for the best, because we all have the ambition to raise the bar and aim for the ultimate objective.

“As recently as a year and a half ago, Juventus played in a Champions League final.”

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Allegri: ‘Best defence wins Scudetto’

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/89146/allegri-‘best-defence-wins-scudetto’

 

 

Aug 12, 2016

 

Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri acknowledges “to win the League you need the best defence”.

 

The Bianconeri have won the Scudetto for the past five seasons in a row, and are heavy favourites for the upcoming season.

 

Having had the best defence in the country last season, they’ve signed the top-scorer from last term, Gonzalo Higuain.

 

“The combination is extraordinary,” Allegri acknowledged in an interview with JTV.

 

“There’s just one problem: we have zero points, just like all the other teams. We have to play every game and hit a certain number of wins.

 

“One thing is certain: to win the League, you need the best defence. The statistics say so, also because Juventus and the best teams in the League score an average of 70 goals per season, so to win you need the defence.

 

“I believe that the journey started five years ago, with important additions season after season. Juve must be competitive to fight on every front, so everyone must go the extra mile to achieve our objectives, which are to win a sixth Scudetto which would see us enter into legend.

 

“Also to improve in the Champions League, and go all the way, even if in the last two years we managed to reach the final and play a great Last 16 against Bayern [

Munich.

 

“Then there’s the Supercoppa and the Coppa Italia.

 

“Our strength this year has to be immediately getting to grips with the League, knowing that to win a sixth Scudetto we have to prepare in the best way and work hard, because we have very aggressive competitors.”

 

Allegri was also asked about the departure of Paul Pogba, who has joined Manchester United for a record €105m.

 

“The club did an extraordinary deal from a financial point of view. I wish him a big ‘good luck’ and maybe we’ll meet in the Champions League in future.

 

“He’s had great seasons, growing a lot and he can do so again in the future.

 

“Marko Pjaca? He’s an interesting player, very good, and one who has a lot of space to improve. He was immediately made available to me and I think he’ll be a revelation.”

 

The Old Lady take on Espanyol in a friendly, and the Coach previewed the match.

 

“It’ll be a good test, just like all the games we’ve played so far,” Allegri predicted.

 

“We need to improve our condition but we’ve worked well in the last week, and on Monday we’ll start thinking about the League.”

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Allegri: Juventus are potentially perfect

 

The former Milan boss is wary that his side cannot afford to start their campaign

as sluggishly as they did last term - but he has high hopes for them.

 

http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2016/08/12/26445242/-?

 

 

Aug 12, 2016

 

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has hailed his "potentially perfect" squad, but warned them against complacency as they aim to win a sixth successive Serie A title.

 

Though the Italian champions have lost Paul Pogba and Alvaro Morata in the off-season, a number of high-profile stars have arrived in Turin, including Dani Alves, Miralem Pjanic and Gonzalo Higuain.

 

Despite the gap between Juve and the chasing pack appearing to widen with those signings, Allegri has insisted nothing is decided before a ball is kicked.

 

"We've assembled a formidable squad but it will be for nothing if we do not make a good start to the season," he told the club's official channel. 

 

"Our strength this year must be the ability to quickly immerse ourselves in the championship, knowing that to win the sixth title you have to work a lot and prepare for the best, because we have very aggressive competitors.

 

"We have the best defence [in Serie A] and the top scorer of last season. The combination is potentially perfect.

 

"There's only one problem: we have zero points like all the other teams, we must take nothing for granted and ensure we start better than we did last year."

Juve's league campaign begins against Fiorentina in Turin on August 20.

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Allegri: 'Pogba deal extraordinary'

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/89152/allegri-pogba-deal-extraordinary

 

 

Aug 12, 2016

 

Max Allegri said Juventus got “an extraordinary deal” out of selling Paul Pogba to Manchester United for €105m (£89.2m).

 

The midfielder arrived as a free agent when his contract with United expired in the summer of 2012, but sold him back to the Old Trafford outfit for a world record €105m plus €5m bonuses.

 

“The club did an extraordinary deal from a financial point of view,” the Coach told JTV.

 

“I wish him a big ‘good luck’ and maybe we’ll meet in the Champions League in future.

 

“He’s had great seasons, growing a lot and he can do so again in the future.”

 

There is still some debate over who paid agent Mino Raiola’s commission, believed to be in the region of €20-25m.

 

Juventus released a financial statement confirming their profit for Pogba was eventually €72.6m (£61.75m).

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Allegri: 'Pjanic can be world's best'

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/89694/allegri-pjanic-can-be-worlds-best?

 

 

Aug 13, 2016

 

Max Allegri described the two midfielders Juventus want and discussed a trident attack plus “best in the world” Miralem Pjanic.

 

The tactical experiment of a trident was tried out in this evening’s 2-2 friendly draw with Espanyol, which saw Mario Mandzukic and second half substitute Paulo Dybala on target.

 

“On Saturday the real season begins against Fiorentina, so we must ensure that we are ready,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia.

 

“It was a good training session this evening, although we struggled to find spaces in the first half. There were some defensive black-outs, but we also made the most of our chances.”

 

Higuain had his first start in a Juventus jersey, but again looked heavy and far from sharp.

 

“He and those who started pre-season training later will need a while to get to the same level. I don’t know if Dybala as a trequartista behind Mandzukic and Gonzalo Higuain is a good idea, but it’s certainly an idea. These players have the characteristics to do it, though clearly everyone must be willing to work hard.”

 

After Paul Pogba’s world transfer record move to Manchester United, Juve have been linked with numerous midfielders, including Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas, Axel Witsel, Blaise Matuidi and Marcelo Brozovic.

 

“The important thing is that the two players are talented, technically gifted and have the character to play for Juventus. The market closes on August 31 and the club has done very well so far,” continued Allegri.

 

“We don’t need a new striker, as there would be no point signing someone inferior to the level we already have.”

 

Among the new signings was Pjanic, who is being used in an Andrea Pirlo-style role in front of the defence.

 

“He seems like Hernanes, who last year had never played in front of the defence and now looks like a totally different player. I think Pjanic will become one of the best in the world in that position.”

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Massimiliano Allegri seeks tactical fluidity

as Juventus go for the treble

 

 

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/2932742/

massimiliano-allegri-seeks-tactical-fluidity-as-juventus-go-for-the-treble

 

 

Aug 19, 2016

 

With Juventus capturing the world's attention with their recent purchases in the transfer market, many wonder how Massimiliano Allegri will line up his men as they attempt to challenge for the treble once again.

When Antonio Conte arrived at Juve, he soon realised the 3-5-2 formation would offer his side defensive solidity as well as giving them attacking impetus. It was a shape that few believed in but Juventus executed to perfection, largely due to the players' sacrificial nature.

When Allegri arrived, he refused to change too much too quickly, highlighting his intelligence and patience. Instead, he chose to maintain the shape but also sought alternatives, deploying a 4-3-1-2 shape in Europe to ensure defensive solidity at the top with Arturo Vidal pressing as well as improving Juve's attacking game. The formation worked wonders against Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid in the Champions League as the Bianconeri showed versatility and tactical intelligence, changing shapes depending on the task at hand.

Allegri acknowledged the merits of having a side that was tactically fluid to tackle different opponents. It is for this reason that Juventus have attacked the market with different ideas this summer. While the 3-5-2 formation remains Juve's bread and butter, the very shape that provides balance, Allegri and his directors have since sought out players capable of offering variety and who could play in different styles.

The reasoning is, in Europe, the Bianconeri must be more decisive going forward. Often, successful teams such as Barcelona and Real Madrid attack with three men, doing their utmost to penetrate weak defences and score the necessary away goals. While both Miralem Pjanic and Paulo Dybala are happy to play as a second striker, there's also a chance Allegri will opt to play Gonzalo Higuain, Mario Mandzukic and Dybala all together as a trident. It would be reminiscent of the great Alessandro Del Piero, Fabrizio Ravanelli and Gianluca Vialli attack force of the mid 90s.

Finding the right balance will be difficult for Allegri who has so many options available to him. He could effectively play a 3-5-2, a 4-3-1-2 or even a 4-3-3. He has Dani Alves and Alex Sandro who can contribute to an effective attack or he can opt for Stephen Lichtsteiner or Patrice Evra should he look to play a more cautious game.

He can deploy Pjanic just in front of the defence and encourage the likes of Sami Khedira and Claudio Marchisio to make timely runs forward to attack the spaces or he can exploit Pjanic's creativity by playing him further forward, as atrequartista.

Then there's the possibility of utilising Marko Pjaca's extraordinary pace, be it in central areas or out wide. Should Juan Cuadrado return to the Italian champions, he too can expose weak oppositions with his pace and technique.

For the first time in a long time, the Old Lady does not only boast a balanced side but a team comprised of players who offer an infinite amount of tactical possibilities. This is the year of great expectations where a place in the semifinals of the Champions League should be achieved, a feat that can be accomplished if Allegri and his men remain open minded and flexible in their approach.

Yet in order to gain momentum, it's essential the Bianconeri start the Serie A season well unlike what they managed last year. Fiorentina will be the first challenge to overcome and based on recent friendlies, it may not be the most difficult of tasks.

In the Viola's recent match against Valencia, Paulo Sousa's side struggled defensively with the players committing several errors. The Spaniards soon realised that if they accelerated, they would expose Fiorentina's backline, creating chances for themselves. Too narrow at times, Sousa's men will need to find solutions should Juventus opt to play with speed in the wide areas.

In all likeliness, Allegri will depend upon the tried and tested 3-5-2 formation on Saturday evening. Alves is almost sure to start on the right meaning the coach is likely to deploy a more defensive option on the left, whether that be Evra or Kwadwo Asamoah to offer balance.

Up front it seems unlikely Higuain will be deployed from the start with Mandzukic and Dybala likely to take their place upfront. If Juventus remain humble yet confident and not surrender to the pressure of such high expectations, they might just achieve glory.

 

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Allegri: Pogba left because I beat him at basketball!

 

The France international's decision to leave the Turin side has prompted

a light-hearted response from the club's manager.

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2016/08/19/26668912/-?

 

 

Aug 19, 2016

 

Massimiliano Allegri has joked that Paul Pogba decided to leave Juventus because he lost to his head coach at football and basketball challenges.

 

Manchester United signed the France international in a world-record £89million deal this monthand he is expected to make his second debut for the Premier League side when they face Southampton on Friday.

 

Allegri revealed he had not had the chance to speak to Pogba since his Juve exit, but spoke positively about their relationship and jested over the possible reasons for leaving.

 

"We had a very good relationship, like I do with all the players," Allegri said. "Maybe he was still hurting because he lost to me in a challenge at football and basketball, so it was for that reason he decided to leave Juventus!"

 

"We didn't speak because among other things he was in America until the day before he went to Manchester."

 

Fiorentina are the visitors to Turin on Saturday as Juve begin the new Serie A campaign looking to win the Scudetto for the sixth year in succession, with Allegri wary over his side's tough start to the campaign.

 

The head coach said: "This year, once again, we had five new players coming in and we've only had 17 days to work together, so we'll certainly need a bit of time.

 

"That's why in the first few matches, over and beyond the question of playing well, we need an important approach in terms of character. These are difficult games, all the more so because we are at the beginning of the season.

 

"Fiorentina is just such a game. You can tell by looking at them last year, and by their statistics, that they always do well in the first half of the season.

 

"They're a brilliant team and they changed nobody. They still have the same players they did last year, so they'll have an advantage compared to us. It will be difficult.

 

"I won't be talking about the transfer market, but the club is speaking with its actions and doing a great job to boot. We've brought in some great players, we're a different team from last year.

 

"We have 15 days to complete the squad, then there are players on other teams who I don't want to talk about at all."

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Allegri: Scudetto has to be earned on the pitch

 

Manager’s pre-match comments ahead of Juventus vs Fiorentina

 

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/8/19/12554176/max-allegri-

scudetto-has-to-be-earned-on-the-pitch-juventus-fiorentina-2016-preview

 

 

Aug 19, 2016

 

While Juventus might have dominated the headlines and the transfer market over the summer, the defending champions have not achieved anything yet as they set out to capture their sixth title in a row.

Manager Massimiliano Allegri, speaking at a pre-match press conference, stated that his side would not be taking anything for granted, and their goals for the year were very clear.

“First of all, nothing is easy - especially in football.

“You can’t necessarily say that because Juventus have made some good signings - Gonzalo Higuain, Miralem Pjanic, Medhi Benatia, Marko Pjaca, Dani Alves - that it’s a mathematical equation and we should win the Scudetto.

“To win the Scudetto you have to earn it on the pitch, like going forward in the Champions League. We’ll take it a step at a time, which is the way it should be.

“The first overall objective is to get to March and be fighting for three competitions, to be fighting in the League, the Last 16 of the Champions League and the Coppa Italia. From then on we’ll play our season.

“Tomorrow, when the season starts, all 20 teams have zero points, so to take the points tomorrow we’ll have to play a great match.

“It’s definitely not easy, because in every year that passes - Juventus have won the Scudetto for five in a row - the level of difficulty gets higher and higher.

“The other teams become more aggressive, and as we saw at the beginning of last year, unconsciously there’s a drop-off.

“So we should look at what we did last year and try to put it into practice from the start of the season where, again, the games are more difficult and complicated than over the last two months.”

On the topic of Paul Pogba, who became the world’s most expensive transfer -

“We didn’t speak, because among other things he was in America until the day before he went to Manchester. We had a very good relationship, like I do with all the players.

“Maybe he was still hurting because he lost to me in a challenge at football and basketball, so it was for that reason he decided to leave Juventus.”

Allegri was also asked about the possibility of Juan Cuadrado returning, as well as any other transfer targets -

“I won’t speak about the transfer market because we have the game tomorrow.

“Above all because these two games in August are as deadly as games in January, though you’re perhaps in a different condition in January, the team is settled and you just need a few tweaks in the transfer market.

“These two games with the transfer window still open, the window that matters, are always a trap.

“So I won’t speak about transfers, because the transfer market is down to the club and the club has had a great transfer campaign.

“We have 15 days to complete the squad, then there are players on other teams who I don’t want to talk about at all.”

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Gonzalo Higuain goals to come as he regains fitness - Max Allegri

 

 

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/juventus/story/2934398/gonzalo-

higuain-goals-to-come-as-he-regains-fitness-max-allegri

 

 

Aug 21, 2016

 

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri says there are plenty more Gonzalo Higuain goals to come this season after the striker scored the winner on his debut on Saturday.

Higuain scored in the 75th minute in his first competitive game since the Serie A champions paid an Italian record €90 million to sign him from Napoli.

The striker found the net less than 10 minutes after coming on as a substitute, and Allegri believes more goals will follow once Higuain is fully fit.

"[Higuain] is in better shape [than when he joined], just as everyone is," he told Sky Sport Italia. "We have five new players and need to become a team.

"I am very happy with the first half. We defended in a fairly organised manner in the second half too.

"When [Higuain] gets half a chance, he scores a goal, as you saw.  And he's not in shape yet, but above all needs to improve his understanding with his new teammates."

Higuain said it was an ideal beginning to his career at Juventus, who are in search of a sixth straight championship.

"I am very happy for my debut, for the victory and the goal," he told Mediaset Premium.

"We must continue like this. It was very important to start with a win. We worked hard and the victory was deserved.

"I hope to repay the affection of the fans with many goals. I want to win as many titles as possible, but we're just at the beginning.

"I dedicate the goal to everyone who had faith in me."

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Allegri: Sixth Scudetto would be legend, that is our objective

 

 

Manager’s comments after Juventus beat Fiorentina

 

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/8/21/12570836/allegri-sixth-scudetto-

would-be-legend-that-is-our-objective-juventus-fiorentina-comments

 

 

Aug 21, 2016

 

Champions Juventus got off the new season to a good start, beating Fiorentina 2-1 with a late winner from this summer mercato’s most expensive incoming transfer, Gonzalo Higuain.

Manager Massimiliano Allegri was out to temper expectations and keep hopes within check as he addressed the media after the game -

“A sixth Scudetto would be legend, so that is our objective. After that there is the Coppa Italia, Champions League and Super Cup. The real target is to improve on what we did in the past.

“I will make choices based on every single game. After the break for international duty, we’ll have eight games in a month and that’s when we need everyone in good shape.

“The objective is always to reach our physical, mental and tactical peak in March. This season that’s even more important.”

Allegri was vague though when asked who they were targeting to replace Paul Pogba -

“Someone good.”

On the game itself, where Juve let the visitors back in during a lax spell -

“The team played a very good first half, especially as we’re not in optimal form yet. I think we should’ve scored more than two goals, as Fiorentina only created one real chance.

“From a possible counter-attack for us, Alex Sandro lost the ball and we conceded on the corner.”

Higuain had received some criticism for being overweight when he signed on for the Bianconeri, but has lost some weight since then, and Allegri defended the forward -

“He’s in better shape, just as everyone is. We have five new players and need to become a team. I am very happy with the first half. We defended in a fairly organised manner in the second half too.

“When he gets half a chance, he scores a goal, as you saw tonight. And he’s not in shape yet, but above all needs to improve his understanding with his new teammates.

“There was some fatigue, especially as Khedira had only been training for a couple of weeks. He was decisive in the two situations by running into space.

“When we had the game in hand, we didn’t hold the ball as well as we should’ve done. We needed to keep the pressure on and force them to defend around their own penalty area, which we didn’t do.

“I was worried we’d get stretched out, as Fiorentina relish running into spaces, but we kept it tight.”

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Allegri: ‘Zaza is in London’

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/90409/allegri-‘zaza-london’?

 

 

Aug 26, 2016

 

Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri confirms “Simone Zaza is in London” ahead of his West Ham move.

 

It was reported last night that the Bianconeri had accepted a bid for the striker, with general manager Beppe Marotta admitting that a deal is close.

 

“I’ll start first with those who aren’t called-up,” Allegri began his pre-Lazio Press conference by saying.

 

“Those are Zaza, who is in London and has the possibility of going to West Ham, [Luca] Marrone who is another player on the way out and [Leonardo] Bonucci for personal reasons.”

 

Allegri was then asked about yesterday’s Champions League draw, which sees his side face Sevilla, Lyon and Dinamo Zagreb.

 

“The only draw I’m interested in right now is the one which was made in July and which told us that tomorrow, the second match, we’ll play Lazio.

 

“By the way they’re playing very well, winning a nice game with Atalanta - Bergamo is always a tough place to go - by scoring four goals and showing good condition.

 

“Tomorrow we’ll play at 6, it’ll be a very difficult match but we have to do everything to bring home the three points.

 

“Returning to talk about the Champions League, Sevilla is the only team in the last 40 years which was won the same trophy [the Europa League] three times.

 

“How will we play them? I don’t know how we’ll play Sevilla, because if I’d known that I’d have already seen the draw, I’d have seen it before the start of the season.

 

“Otherwise I’d have to watch every match from all the 32 teams competing in the Champions League.

 

“No, I don’t know how we’ll play them. [Jorge] Sampaoli is a great Coach, he has different characteristics from [Unai] Emery.

 

“They’re a good team, but we’ll talk about it later. There’s the international break, we’ll go on holiday then we’ll discuss it when we get back.

 

“It’s nice, because after the holiday there are seven games one after the other.”

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Allegri: Great players have to feel good

 

 

Manager’s comments after Juventus beat Lazio

 

 

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/8/27/12673908/allegri-great-

players-have-to-feel-good-juventus-lazio-post-game-comments-khedira-mercato

 

 

Aug 27, 2016

 

Juventus didn’t really hit top gear today, but came away from the nation’s capital with a 1-0 win over Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico thanks to a Sami Khedira goal.

After the game, manager Massimiliano Allegri spoke happily of midfielder Sami Khedira who scored his second goal of the season in just the second game of the campaign -

“Great players have to feel good. Like all the others in the team he is fantastic and can manage a situation even when it isn’t going well.”

Allegri was frustrated by his side’s performance as they struggled to penetrate Lazio’s backline -

“We have our path to follow. It was so hot today and we made a lot of mistakes in the first half. After the break we did well, but I remember the first six touches from Kwadwo Asamoah, for example, were all bad.

“In the second, we did well, though we will improve as we are only on the second week of the season. We are doing a bit better than at this time last year though."

When asked if this was the strongest Bianconeri squad he had ever had, he replied somewhat diplomatically -

“It’s different from the others. We introduced many new players compared to last year. It would be a mistake to seek players similar to the ones we’ve already got.”

With French midfielder Blaise Matuidi off the market, who does Allegri want in the last few days of the summer mercato?

“I told the club to sign good players, then I’ll figure out a way to use them.”

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri Must Ditch the 3-5-2 Formation

 

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2660203-juventus-coach-massimiliano-allegri-must-ditch-the-3-5-2-formation?

 

 

Aug 28, 2016

 

Juventus notched their second win in two matches on Saturday evening, the reigning Serie A champions making a perfect start to their title defence.

A 1-0 victory away to Lazio—particularly this early in the campaign—is an impressive result in isolation, but this performance hinted at an issue for the Bianconeri.

This was a poor overall display, one that saw the Turin giants not only struggle against the late-summer heat in Rome but also battle a distinct lack of creativity throughout the entire 90 minutes.

Before discussing the underlying problems, however, it must be noted there are some mitigating circumstances hindering coach Massimiliano Allegri. He was forced to leave Miralem Pjanic out because of a slight knock, while Claudio Marchisio remains sidelined with a torn ACL.

On top of that, during his pre-match press conference, Allegri told reporters Leonardo Bonucci would be missing "for personal reasons." That trio is comprised of arguably the best three passers in the squad. Without them, it is perhaps no surprise the Bianconeri struggled to unlock a resolute Lazio defence.

A dour opening period passed with little incident, Juve introducing Higuain after the break in search of an opener. But it would not be the Argentinian who struck, Sami Khedira instead netting for the second match in a row, as he exploited the space created by a run from the former Napoli star.

Yet by the final whistle, the team had failed to create many chances,WhoScored.com showing the visitors had just 47.2 per cent possession and managed just five shots on target.

Lazio have undoubtedly been boosted by Stefan de Vrij's return to fitness and the arrival of new signing Bastos, but Khedira was far more concerned with his own side's struggles rather than Saturday's opponent's new-look defence.

"I think, especially in the first half we had not so much movement, but after the break we had better situations and more opportunities to score," the German midfielder told Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia) after the match. “In the end, I think it was a good result for us."

The second part of that assessment is certainly true, Juventus supporters happy to see the team with six points on the board after losing their first two games a year ago. Taking victories from tough encounters with Fiorentina and Lazio only adds to that joy, but Khedira's view of the opening 45 minutes presents much food for thought.

Seeing such a limited and toothless performance from Juventus adds to the belief that Allegri should dispense with the 3-5-2 formation. It has been a hallmark of the side since this era of domination began back in 2011, but as they have continued to emphasise their domestic superiority, it has become less and less effective.

Opposing teams have shown Juventus much more respect as this winning cycle has developed, sitting deep and challenging the Bianconeri to try break them down. Indeed, Lazio barely created any chances of note, but they did show strong resistance and resilience in denying Allegri's men an opening.

But the Juve boss also played into their hands with both his team selection and tactical approach. His three-man midfield of Khedira, Mario Lemina and Kwadwo Asamoah was limited by those aforementioned injury issues, but that trio was never likely to carve out a string of chances.

 

 

 Follow

Adam Digby 

 

✔@Adz77

Mario Lemina v Lazio: 45/53 passes (84.9%) but all very horizontal, no penetration (via @StatsZone)

10:32 AM - 28 Aug 2016

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Lemina saw more of the ball than his midfield team-mates, but while the 22-year-old is much-improved after a year with Juventus, he remains a functional holding player rather than one comfortable seeing large amounts of possession.

Opposition coach Simone Inzaghi was happy to let the Gabon international receive the ball, the FourFourTwo StatsZone graphic in the tweet above showing he continually passed sideways—which Lazio were content to allow—rather than forward.

That meant, much like against Fiorentina, Juventus were relying on creating chances out wide. But again, Allegri’s approach appeared to hurt his side. Alex Sandro and Dani Alves have the pace and attacking prowess to cause problems, but they were occupied by Felipe Anderson and Senad Lulic.

 

 

sharemytactics.com

 

Inzaghi countered Juve’s 3-5-2 with a 3-4-3 formation, his wingers forcing Juve’s Brazilian duo back while his own wing-backs, Dusan Basta and Jordan Lukaku, provided security behind them.

The tactical battle also left Juve’s defensive trio of Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Medhi Benatia marking only Ciro Immobile, the image below indicative of how the game played out.

 

 

Adam Digby via WyScout

 

Removing one of those three and adding an extra winger or forward could’ve opened up this game for Juventus, and a shift from 3-5-2 is becoming increasingly necessary. Allegri could have gone away from the framework much earlier, perhaps shifting to a back four with more attacking players operating out wide.

Lazio never troubled goalkeeper Gigi Buffon, and the introduction of Marko Pjaca for his debut showed the visitors are capable of so much more when allowed to break from their normal approach.

Sent on in the 88th minute, his first touch saw him go past a defender and take a shot, his confidence and ability making a notable impact. The prospect of him featuring for extended periods—perhaps working in tandem with another winger—is one Juventus must seriously consider.

 

 

 

 

 Follow

Bilal B. @JuveBillz

PJACA FIRST TOUCH! #LazioJuve

8:00 PM - 27 Aug 2016

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On Saturday, that role was briefly filled by Sandro, the former FC Portoman reprising a role he filled to great effect last term, often brought on to play wide on the left as Juan Cuadrado attacked from the opposite flank.

Perhaps with that in mind, it is of little surprise that David Amoyal of journalist Gianluca Di Marzio’s website reported Juve retain “optimism for finding a deal” for the Colombian, hoping to bring the Colombian back from Chelsea before the transfer window closes.

His return would give Allegri some vital tactical variety, with a 4-3-3 formation the first alternative. Another will come when Pjanic and Marchisio recover, the former able to play behind the strikers in a 4-3-1-2 system.

Whichever direction the Bianconeri opt to move, the evidence already this season suggests they should make a shift soon. If an inexperienced manager such as Inzaghi—who was in charge for just his ninth match on Saturday—can negate the 3-5-2, better coaches will begin to pick off this side rather than just limit their opportunities.

The formation still has its place and will certainly warrant use as the campaign progresses, often as a way of protecting a lead—as they did en route to the 2015 UEFA Champions League final.

Yet it has become something of a comfort blanket for the Bianconeri, a default setup they know domestic opponents cannot overcome, but one they are now guilty of hiding under.

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Massimiliano Allegri wants Juventus

improvement despite perfect start

 

 

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/juventus/story/2947889/massimiliano-allegri-

wants-juventus-improvement-despite-win-over-sassuolo

 

 

Sep 10, 2016

 

Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has ordered his side to continue to improve despite extending their perfect start to the new campaign with a 3-1 win over Sassuolo.

Two goals in the first 10 minutes from Gonzalo Higuain set up another win for the hosts in Turin, with Miralem Pjanic adding a third before Luca Antei completed the scoring for the visitors before half-time.

But Allegri was keen to stress it could have been different if Matteo Politano had not been denied by Gianluigi Buffon in the opening moments -- and if the same player had not missed another golden chance in injury time.

Allegri told a news conference: "Higuain is a player who can make the difference and today we put in a very assured attacking display.

"However, we need to have more balance in the defensive third of the field. We did very well for the first 27 minutes, even if Buffon had already been forced into a fine save.

"We also need to work on the way we manage games after building strong leads, because we allowed them to have too many shots and risked letting them back into the match."

His side's 100 percent start to the season has led many to insist the Serie A title is once again Juve's for the taking but Allegri is eager to inspire caution coming so early in the season.

"We've made a perfect start to the season but then again we've only played three fixtures so far," he said.

"We need to keep working to raise our game. Every day I keep hearing that we're favourites for the title, but we still need to turn up and do the business."

Juventus take a break from domestic action when they begin another Champions League campaign against Sevilla in midweek and Allegri said he understands the growing desire for a first continental title in Turin since 1996.

"The Champions League always ought to be an objective for Juventus," he added.

"It was in my first year here and we reached the final. The minimum aim for us is to qualify for the last 16, then we'll assess our chances again after the draw. In order to make things easier, it's important that we top our group."

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Allegri: Need to stay calm, some are flying from euphoria to depression

 

 

Manager’s comments after Juventus held to scoreless draw.

 

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/9/15/12923526/allegri-need-

to-stay-calm-some-are-flying-from-euphoria-to-depression-juventus-sevilla

 

 

Sep 15, 2016

 

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri was in no mood for platitudes after the he watched his side frustrated by a resolute Sevilla side to a 0-0 home draw in the first matchday of this season’s Champions League.

Irritated by the tone of questioning from the media, Allegri defended his side’s performance on the day -

“The performance was good. In the first half we struggled to get the ball back, but their pressing game inevitably fell away after the break.

“The 0-0 is only disappointing because some people were expecting us to win 3-0. In Europe we need to stay calm, as here some are flying from euphoria to depression. Sevilla didn’t have a single shot on target.

“Juve haven’t won the Champions League for 20 years. We did well on the market, but so did many clubs: it doesn’t mean we will win every single game.

“It is crazy to say Juventus are the absolute favourites to win the Champions League. That was never the case.

“Juve had seven chances to score and normally that’d be enough to win, as Sevilla did not have a single shot on target. The team should not feel disappointed with the performance.

“It’s the first time I haven’t won the opening game of a Champions League group phase, so maybe it’ll bring us luck.”

Allegri came under fire for some of his tactical decisions, including bringing on Miralem Pjanic with just over twenty minutes left to play -

“I have a squad of great players and at times I need to change them. It was a choice and then I modified it because I thought I needed more quality close to the box.

“Dybala plays the same position as last year, he’s just a little tired. In the second half we took control of the game and were just missing a goal.

“Kwadwo Asamoah gave us something more when defending. I introduced Marko Pjaca at the end because his pace could be more dangerous than the physicality of Mario Mandzukic.

“We are absolutely not let down by this result. We know that we’ve got every chance of progressing.”

He insisted that all hope was not lost and this was only one game -

“This was a difficult match due to the Sevilla pressing, though we played a different game in the second half.

“We were unable to get the victory, it is more difficult in Europe and we are disappointed. We need to improve our performance and passing, but there’s everything to suggest we can.”

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Allegri: Inter are a stepping stone to the title

 

 

Manager’s pre-match comments.

 

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/9/17/12951560/allegri-inter-

are-a-stepping-stone-to-the-scudetto-serie-a-juventus-inter-milan-comments

 

 

Sep 17, 2016

 

Manager Massimiliano Allegri has been addressing the press ahead of tomorrow’s Juventus game against hated rivals Inter Milan. The match, dubbed as the Derby d'Italia will be in Milan at the San Siro.

“Small incidents eventually become fundamental, which is why we must realise every detail matters and it’ll be much more difficult to win the Scudetto. Just because Juventus have a stronger squad doesn’t automatically mean we will win every game.

“Tomorrow is a fascinating game, the Derby d’Italia, it is the first stepping stone to the Scudetto. Some wonder it’s only the fourth week, but I tell you it IS the first stepping stone to the Scudetto.

“There are three or four games in a season that you feel can be decisive at the end of the day and this against a strong Inter side is one of them.

“Everyone is available, Stefano Sturaro will be from next week because today he’s playing for the Primavera youth team. The only one certain to start tomorrow is Stephan Lichtsteiner – him against everyone! OK, Sami Khedira will play too.

“There will be changes, we have a series of games in the space of three days, so yes I will need everyone. Let’s also remember that the bench is not an insult, it is a choice by the Coach, and at the end of the season the winning team is the one with the strongest bench.

“In March when you lack the players to come off the bench and win you games, it becomes a problem winning the Scudetto.”

Going into this game, Juventus drew at home in the Champions League against Sevilla, while Inter lost to Hapoel Beer-Sheva in the Europa League on Thursday.

“You always say we’re favourites regardless of the situation! Last season we beat Sevilla 2-0 when they had two shots on target. This season we drew 0-0 with seven shots on goal and them not having a single effort or getting close to our box. A draw with Sevilla cannot be viewed as a failure, otherwise we’re all out of our minds.

“We know the Inter we face tomorrow is not the team who lost on Thursday and struggled to beat Pescara last week. They want to prove they are on the same level as Juventus. We want to win because we realise it’s an important stepping stone towards the Scudetto.

“I am not an anxious person, generally. We can’t shoot ourselves because we drew with Sevilla. It was a good performance. I repeat, a good performance. The result will affect the evaluation, I respect the media, but I have to look at what the team did. Balance is necessary.

“If we win tomorrow, it’s not as if we’ll automatically win the next 50 in a row. It’s three points. If we draw or lose, it changes little, this is just one stepping stone on a journey and we have our eyes on the finish line. We can’t be wavered from that path, one way or another.”

On Paulo Dybala, who has yet to score this season -

“Dybala has not changed position much, the difference is so far he hasn’t scored. This happens in the life of a striker.

“A team needs great strikers, great midfielders and great defenders. If we rotate the squad, it’ll give us the opportunity to play with the same intensity every three days. That is important and, considering our objective is to reach the end of every tournament, it changes little if someone plays 30 or 35 games.

“On Wednesday we did consider some tactical changes. I have already decided, tomorrow we are playing with three at the back.

“It’s possible to play with Mandzukic and Higuain together, we already tried it in a friendly, and with Dybala too, but these things need to be developed gradually.”

On the comments by defender Leonardo Bonucci, who said he felt “let down” by fans at the Juventus Stadium who voiced their discontent just 20 minutes into the Sevilla game -

“There were such expectations that some people expected us to be 3-0 up after 20 minutes, but that’s not football.”

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Rossi: ‘Juventus, play Higuain!’

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/91730/rossi-‘juventus-play-higuain’?

 

 

Sep 20, 2016

 

Legendary striker Paolo Rossi “can’t understand” Juventus dropping Gonzalo Higuain.

 

The Argentinian joined from Napoli for a Serie A-record €90m this summer, but Mario Mandzukic played ahead of him in the Derby d’Italia defeat to Inter.

 

“The result was proof that nothing is obvious in football,” Rossi reflected in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

 

“Although Juventus are still under construction, I can’t understand how they can leave out Higuain.

 

“He’s very strong, no-one can dispute that, I don’t think he’d upset some sort of balance even if he’s playing with a phenomenon like [Paulo] Dybala who I think is the modern version of [Omar] Sivori.”

 

Rossi was then asked if he felt Juventus could win the Champions League, having been in the side for their first European Cup triumph in 1985, though it was overshadowed by the Heysel Stadium disaster.

 

“I still find it hard to talk about it [Heysel]. I’ll never forget the sheets covering the bodies outside the stadium.

 

“Can Juventus win it this year? They have everything to do it, but historically the Champions League is cursed for Juve.

 

“They have to learn to handle the pressure, like Real Madrid did when they were chasing the 10th and just couldn’t win it, but eventually their day came.”

 

The striker was top-scorer at the 1982 World Cup as Italy won the trophy, and a film is planned about his career as he turns 60 on Friday.

 

“Being Coached by [Giovan Battista] Fabbri was the turning point for me,” Rossi recalled.

 

“At Vicenza he transformed me from a winger to a striker. We got promoted to Serie A, then I was top-scorer and I got called-up for the 1978 World Cup.

 

“The triumph came in 1982, but I’m very attached to that World Cup as it was my first in the international spotlight.

 

“Giorgio Lago, a journalist from the Gazzettino in Venezia, nicknamed me ‘Pablito’ and from those days in Argentina onward everyone called me Pablito.

 

“My daughters call me Paolo, but I like that everyone in football calls me Pablito.”

 

The film will also include his ban as part of a betting scandal just before the 1982 World Cup…

 

“I never digested it, that’s a wound that’s always open. I was banned for two years even though I hadn’t spoken to anyone, I hadn’t done anything.

 

“Returning after two years to play in the World Cup? In the first few games I knew I didn’t feel good. My teammates made fun of me, but I could feel affection in the jokes of [Franco] Causio, [Antonio] Cabrini, [Marco] Tardelli.

 

“I’ll never stop thanking [CT Enzo] Bearzot, he was the only one who believed in me. I owe him everything.

 

“If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be here and no-one would be looking for me, let alone for a film.

 

“Someone like him is born every 100 years. He was real, direct, sincere, consistent, maybe tough and stubborn but he did that out of love.

 

“Then he was also a great Coach and a great psychologist. After my hat-trick against Brazil he sat me down and he said ‘well done Paolo, but now think about the next game’.

 

“He spoke that way because he wanted to keep the tension high.”

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Allegri: ‘Inter-Juventus was terrible!’

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/91736/allegri-‘inter-juventus-was-terrible’

 

 

Sep 20, 2016

 

Massimiliano Allegri believes Inter-Juventus was “one of the ugliest games on a technical level in the last 30 years”.

 

The Derby d’Italia saw the Bianconeri defeated by the Beneamata at San Siro, leading to suggestions that the Coach could shake things up to face Cagliari tomorrow.

 

“First of all I’ll have to look at the training session today to see who will be available for tomorrow,” Allegri noted in his pre-match Press conference.

 

“I mean that in the sense that there are some who have played a lot of games like [Sami] Khedira. [Leo] Bonucci needs a bit of work because he hasn’t worked much after the return on August 2 because of various problems which were thankfully resolved.

 

“So I’ll have to assess it today, meaning that talking about the formation doesn’t make much sense.

 

“By the way, I think Inter-Juventus on Sunday evening was one of the ugliest games on a technical level in the last 30 years, where we scored a goal with good play from Alex Sandro and then scored two goals against ourselves, without taking anything away from Inter who played an angry match, meaning their competitive level and desire to prove themselves.

 

“We gave a lot of balls to them, and when you play football the idea is to pass the ball to someone in the same shirt as you. We were lacking a lot in terms of that.

 

“Then there came a drama where within 24 hours we have to ditch the work and certainties that we’ve had for years, I don’t think that makes much sense and above all it demonstrates our insecurities.

 

“One thing is certain, throughout the year the team will have to change system to try and take advantage of the characteristics of the players we have, who will need to grow.

 

“[Marko] Pjaca, who is a young player with a great future definitely needs more time just like maybe [Paulo] Dybala did last year or [Alvaro] Morata two years ago.

 

“Everything takes time, and above all we want balance because otherwise if we play a match as badly as Sunday, with all the certainties we have, it means we’re on the wrong path.”

 

Allegri also took the fans to task for their treatment of Hernanes, who struggled in his first season in Turin last term.

 

“Khedira has played seven games in a row, and I don’t think he’s done that for a long time so we’ve already made a step forward there.

 

“It’s normal that he’d need to recover, so we have [Mario] Lemina, [Miralem] Pjanic, [Kwadwo] Asamoah and Hernanes, because Hernanes is a player who last year [pauses]…

 

“I see that at the stadium when we play at home, every now and then he gets a bit of whistling. I think we need some respect for Hernanes, because he was very important last year.

 

“Let’s not forget when we won in Manchester [against City], he helped in Bayern Munich at home when [Claudio] Marchisio went off at the end of the first half.

 

“In football everyone can make mistakes, Hernanes is an important player for Juventus and must remain so because [Stefano] Sturaro is returning now but he’s still a bit short of top condition.

 

“Marchisio isn’t ready yet and will be missing for a little while yet, and every player in this squad has to feel part of this project, or rather this season because there are no projects, in football you just have to win game-by-game.

 

“I think Hernanes should be helped because at home that doesn’t happen because - with all the respect I have for the fans - I put him on the pitch and he just gets whistled.

 

“He’s a player who contributed last year like everyone else did. I have four midfielders because Khedira will almost certainly be rested tomorrow, and from that I’ll choose three.

 

“That is unless I decide to play [Juan] Cuadrado, Dani Alves or Alex Sandro as an outside midfielder.”

 

The tactician also revealed that youngster Daniele Rugani will start against the Isolani tomorrow.

 

“Rugani will play tomorrow,” Allegri confirmed.

 

“That’s another example of the squad Juventus have, he’s an international and he’s grown a lot even if we haven’t seen him at the beginning because he hasn’t played.

 

“However, he’s a player who, like I said, grew last year and this year he’s acquitted himself very well.

 

“He’s a player who will play for Juventus for 10 years, but ahead of him he’s got three plus [Medhi] Benatia, so four very good players.

 

“He has plenty of time to grow, he’ll definitely play this year, he’ll find space and play a lot of games. We’re only at the start.”

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Allegri: ‘No problem with Dybala’

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/91737/allegri-‘no-problem-dybala’

 

 

Sep 20, 2016

 

Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri assures there’s “no problem” with Paulo Dybala, despite no goals in his first five games of the season.

 

The Argentinian forward was a revelation last season, but is yet to get off the mark in the current campaign.

 

“I’ll have a look at him today,” Allegri shrugged in his pre-Cagliari Press conference.



 

“Dybala played a lot of games last year and even on Sunday [against Inter] he played a good match. He’s lacking a goal right now, but he needs to stay calm because it can happen.

 

“This year is very important for him, because last year he had a year in crescendo and this season he has struggled a little bit, but that happens in the career of a footballer and above all over the course of a season.

 

“He just has to remain calm because he’s an extraordinary player, so I see no problem with Dybala.”

 

The Bianconeri conceded two goals following set pieces at the weekend, something which has rarely happened in recent years.

 

“It’s easy, just look at how we conceded the goals, it’s a matter of attention. It can happen that Juventus - well, it shouldn’t happen but it can - that Juventus go behind.

 

“I said that to get a positive result at San Siro, meaning a draw or a win, we’d have to play well on a technical level above all. We didn’t do that, and little episodes went against us.

 

“Our objective this year is to improve the level of our play, to improve the players who have arrived and get to March still competitive in the three competitions in which we play.

 

“So we can’t win the League or lose it now, the League is won on May 30. Even if we win tomorrow or we’d won at San Siro three, 12 or 15 points isn’t enough for the Scudetto.

 

“Wehave to be calm, take it game-by-game and we have a clear objective which is to get into the next round of the Champions League, trying to finishing top.

 

“Clearly tomorrow there will be a different reaction because we were defeated in Milan and got so much criticism so it’s normal that the team will have a reaction both in terms of anger and their play.

 

“As for saying we failed in the most important games, that’s absolutely not true.

 

“Looking at the reality of things, we could have eight points because we won against Lazio in Rome having had two shots on target and the lads did well.

 

“Then we lost a game in Milan that we didn’t deserve to lose. So we should have had eight points, we have nine points, meaning we’re a point up.

 

“We’ve played Inter, Sassuolo, Lazio and Fiorentina and we wanted 12 points but we got nine and I think that’s right, that’s what we deserved.

 

“Actually in terms of merit we could have one point less, so we look at the positives.”

 

Kwadwo Asamoah gave the ball away before Inter’s winner on Sunday, but Allegri isn’t just blaming the Ghanaian.

 

“It’s not Asamoah’s fault, it was a technical move to try and get us on the break but instead it came back at us and we conceded the goal.

 

“We can stand it, Asa shouldn’t beat himself up because he missed with that pass because it was a bland performance by the whole team.”

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Allegri: ‘I was right to rest Higuain’

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/91738/allegri-‘i-was-right-rest-higuain’

 

 

Sep 20, 2016

 

Massimiliano Allegri insists he was right to rest Gonzalo Higuain for Inter-Juventus - “I’d do it again, without a doubt”.

 

The Bianconeri’s record-signing dropped out of the team in favour of Mario Mandzukic, though he was introduced in the second-half.

 

“After the international break, Higuain played two matches,” Allegri pointed out in his Press conference ahead of the Cagliari game.

 

“Sevilla especially was an intense match. On Sunday I made an assessment of the match and above all the coming matches, and it’s a choice I’d make even now, without a doubt.

 

“During the year there will be some hierarchies, as there must be. It’s normal for everyone, if they’re on the bench, to go in and give a hand to their teammates.

 

“To fight on all fronts you need a great squad, Juventus have that but at the same time we have to find the right balance.

 

“Higuain and Mandzukic would like to play, like so many would, as there’s great competition within the squad.

 

“It’s normal that as two great players it’s thought they should never be reserves, but there are 50 games and it’s unthinkable that Higuain will play 50 games, [Paulo] Dybala will play 50 games and everyone else just watches.

 

“There will be times when Higuain rests, a time when Dybala rests and a time when Mandzukic will rest. Sometimes [Marko] Pjaca will play more, it’s the same in midfield and it’s the same in defence.”

 

Dybala hasn’t scored yet this season, is he playing too deep?

 

“When you write things, I read them, there’s always something to learn. Then what I do is I get the data and I look at things.

 

“Dybala’s position is the same as last year, neither deeper or further forward. At the moment he’s perhaps shooting at the goal less.

 

“Don’t forget that last year Dybala was - in quotation marks - the ‘novelty’ of the season, he’d been at Palermo but he was a novelty.

 

“This year he’s a player who is known, so he has to vary his play depending on the conditions.

 

“It’s more difficult for him this year because of last year, and it’s always hard to confirm it. That’s normal, we’ve talked about it and he has to remain calm.

 

“Maybe if he plays tomorrow and scores he’ll go on a run, because that’s what happens with strikers.

 

“[Alvaro] Morata went five months without scoring last year, then thankfully he scored in the Coppa Italia final. So I don’t see any problems.”

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Tare: ‘Lazio tried for Allegri’

 

http://www.football-italia.net/92560/tare-‘lazio-tried-allegri’

 

Oct 6, 2016

 

Igli Tare reveals Lazio spoke to Max Allegri and Roberto Donadoni about becoming Coach in 2014.

 

The Biancocelesti were looking for a new man on the bench after Edy Reja’s caretaker spell, and ultimately opted for Stefano Pioli.

 

However, the club’s sporting director reveals they attempted to get Allegri before he took over at Juventus.

 

“Roberto Donadoni? We were on the verge of taking him to Lazio two years ago,” Tare explained to Corriere di Bologna.

 

“We talked a lot with him, he’s a man of few words but he’s very solid. He made a good impression, but then we moved on to others.

 

“To tell you the truth we also spoke to Allegri, who I think is the best Italian Coach, but then we opted for Pioli, who fit with our style of play.”

[Socrates 8386]

 

 

Allegri: 'Juve are favourites'

 

http://www.football-italia.net/92895/allegri-juve-are-favourites?

 

Oct 14, 2016

 

Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri believes Juve are ‘favourites to win’ a sixth Scudetto.

 

In an interview with Corriere Dello Sport, he explained that the forthcoming Champions League group stage fixtures with Lyon will effectively become knockout games after his side’s slow start in the group stages of the competition, and he also spoke about Italy’s crop of exciting young players.

 

“I am realistic: Juve are the favorites to win their sixth straight scudetto. We would like to win the SuperCoppa and the Coppa Italia, we have the ability to do it, but it will not be easy.

 

“The Champions League is a tougher challenge now. In our two games with Lyon we will play to qualify. It will be like knockout football.

 

But I am confident, Juve are a good team.

 

“The best young players are [Federico] Bernardeschi, [Gianluigi] Donnarumma, [Domenico] Berardi, [Manuel] Locatelli, [Lorenzo] Pellegrini, [Alessio] Romagnoli and [Daniele] Rugani.

 

“I would like to make a prediction: the generation born in the second half of the nineties will graduate after the World Cup, and Italy will become a strong national team.

 

“Moise Kean? I really feel very strongly about him, I’m not ruling out that the boy will be in the first team sooner or later.”

 

The Juve boss was then asked about the most intelligent player he had ever worked with in football.

 

"The most intelligent player I've ever worked with? [Andrea] Pirlo, [Alessandro] Nesta, [Carlos] Tevez, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic and [Gennaro] Gattuso. Not to mention those in my current Juve team. But if I have to say one name, it’s [Clarence] Seedorf.