Juventus” data-scaytid=”1″>Juventus match-day boss Massimo Carrera is failing to underestimate Champions League opponents Shakhtar Donetsk.
Juventus match-day boss Massimo Carrera is failing to underestimate Champions League opponents Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Old Lady should be in confident mood after comfortably disposing of Roma at the weekend, but Carrera is taking nothing for granted ahead of Tuesday’s encounter.
“Before talking about our Champions League objectives, we have to win this game,” Carrera, touchline boss during Antonio Conte’s suspension, stated.
“They are a very technical side and they have a Coach in Mircea Lucescu who knows Italian football well,” he added.
“They have a lot of Brazilians, they are a dangerous team, one who can counter-attack and a team who can play good football.
“We know that they are very good at the back too, they’ve conceded just six goals in 10 games and they haven’t lost in 25.
“It will be a hard game and we’ll have to suffer during the match itself. We’ll have to play like we do at Juve, to attack our opponents and not allow them to breathe.
“It will be difficult, but we know what we have to do and we are aware that we still have to improve ourselves.”
Despite Conte’s 10-month ban for failing to report alleged attempts to fix a Siena game while he was in charge in Tuscany, Juventus haven’t suffered from his absence.
“Conte spends all week with the team,” Carrera explained. “He tells the players what they need to do and how to behave during the match itself. He’s not on the pitch, but he’s always present.”
Tomorrow will be a big day for Conte as the TNAS tribunal court should rule on his appeal against his ban, but the former midfielder is apparently just focused on one fight.
“Antonio is hopeful, but his lawyers are looking after that,” Carrera explained. “He’s just concentrating on the game and nothing else.”
Juventus are expected to start the tie with the same XI who drew 2-2 at Chelsea in their opening Champions League encounter.