Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri reveals Gleison Bremer won’t be available against Sevilla on Thursday and insists the Old Lady has an ‘armour’ so nothing happening off the pitch will affect the team.
The Bianconeri are busy on two fronts on Wednesday. While the team is preparing for the Europa League semi-final first leg against La Liga side Sevilla, club lawyers are attending the second hearing in the Prisma investigation at the Turin Court.
It will be FIGC, however, to determine a new potential point deduction for the Bianconeri, and the latest updates from Italy suggest Juventus will receive a new penalty by the end of the season.
“I don’t know what will happen, we have armour and nothing affects us anymore,” Allegri said at a press conference on Wednesday as quoted by Ilbianconero.
“One day is black, one is yellow. Everyone speaks and knows everything, but we’ve been strengthened. Now we have these Europa League games and four more matches in Serie A.”
Brazilian defender Bremer has suffered a muscle injury, so he won’t be involved on Thursday.
“Bremer has muscle fatigue, I don’t remember where exactly, I think in his thigh, so he won’t be there,” said Allegri.
“The others are ok. It was a pleasure to watch the training session yesterday. We need enthusiasm, the Final in Budapest would be a great achievement.
“All the team feels well, it will be difficult for me [to make decisions]. Those who have played 15 or 20 minutes have helped their teammates. Vlahovid scored [against Atalanta] and those on the bench will have a chance to help the team tomorrow,” added the Bianconeri boss.
“We face a club that has won the Europa League six times, they have experience and are always in the game. We’ll need a great performance tomorrow. It’s a semi-final and it’s complicated. We must make the most of their weaknesses.”
“We need the same attitude as in Bergamo, Lecce and Bologna, knowing that Sevilla have won many trophies, so we must respect them.”
Racist Atalanta fans targeted Dusan Vlahovic on Sunday and the striker responded by silencing them with his goal celebration.
“I haven’t spoken with him,” admitted Allegri. “I understand that it’s not nice to be racially abused, but it’s better to ignore them and let those in charge punish the guilty ones.”
World Cup winner Angel Di Maria is expected to start and fans hope his experience will be crucial in the tie: “Di Maria knows what he has to do in knock-out games, we need a result and a good performance,” concluded Allegri.