Max Allegri insists ‘there’s no point being worried’ after Juventus deflated against Benfica and while Champions League progress is now ‘certainly complicated, all is not lost.’
The Bianconeri are going to need a miracle to stay in the Champions League after losing both their games to PSG and Benfica, sitting six points adrift of these two sides at the bottom of the group along with Maccabi Haifa.
Arek Milik had given them the early lead after just four minutes in Turin, but they started to sit deeper and deeper, letting Benfica pour forward at will.
A Joao Mario penalty and Neres strike on the rebound from a Mattia Perin save proved enough, although there could easily have been more goals from the Portuguese side.
“Football is difficult to explain, all we can say is that after going 2-1 down the game was over, we risked conceding 3-1 and 4-1,” Allegri told Sky Sport Italia.
“There was a chance late on, but the performance would not have been any better. There’s no point explaining and talking now, we can only work hard.
“I already told the team these moments happen in football, we need to emerge from them as a team, with a sense of responsibility. We have an important Serie A game coming up against Monza and after that we can think about Europe. It will certainly be complicated, but not all is lost.”
It’s not the first time this season that Juve have only really played for one half, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for Allegri to defend these performances.
“I don’t have to criticise the team for anything, I understand the psychological situation of the team. We’ve had some difficult moments and reacted, but conceding that penalty on the stroke of half-time, that was a real blow to morale.”
The coach is in his second stint on the Juventus bench, but is this the toughest period he’s ever experienced at this club?
“I’d never lost two games in the Champions League group phase before, but there’s a first time for everything.”
Leonardo Bonucci said after the game that he was ‘worried’ by the difficulties Juve have found this season, but Allegri does not agree.
“There’s no point being worried, we just have to focus and work.”
That is why the 7/9 pay PhD Max the big bucks. Yes CALMAAA!!! its only another humiliation for the 7/9. Phd Max will also quadruple down when Maccabi Haifa further adds to the shame. Give the man a life time contract and the keys to the city now.
yes it is. the dinosaur has made us extinct in europe too
next two wins against Haifa and PSG wins both games against Benfica, then it is possible.
Come on Max Dino, 3 in a row!!!
Hope they won`t sack him, he has a very long contract 😀
Details already emerged of Agnelli meeting Conte for dinner…
His press conferences are worse than the games. He seems to be taking audiences for fools. All his rebuttals are insults to human intelligence.