Massimiliano Allegri looked to calm the excitement surrounding Juventus and called for ‘great revenge’ in the clash with Sassuolo.
The Bianconeri have impressed in the early weeks of the new season, rising to second in the league table with three wins and a draw, putting them two points behind leaders Inter.
With no European commitments this term, many believe Juventus have a strong chance of winning the Scudetto this season, even if the Nerazzurri have hit the ground running over the last month.
Speaking in a press conference via TMW, Allegri first discussed the attitude he wants Juventus to show against Sassuolo.
“At this moment we need to raise our focus because there’s too much euphoria around. We’re only in the fifth game of the season tomorrow, with Sassuolo in recent years they have always been complicated matches.
“Tomorrow we will find a tough environment and team, with great revenge. We have to play a game with great technique.”
He spoke about the conditions of Federico Chiesa and Dusan Vlahovic.
“They did a separate day of training, Vlahovic had a bit of back pain while Federico was tired with his flexor, but they’re completely available.”
The Juventus coach was asked about the lack of European commitments and if that’s worth five or six points in the title race.
“I don’t know what the advantage or disadvantage will be. It depends on your point of view. You have to think that Juve will have to play in the Champions League next year. It will be added value for the team.
“We will have to commit. We have to get into the top four, it won’t be easy. Inter, Milan and Napoli are above us. A step at a time, with balance, without mood swings.”
Allegri spoke about the direction of the Juventus project.
“The direction will be right if we reach the goal. Otherwise, if we don’t get into the top four, we won’t have done a good job as an objective. Since we are a team with less experience, we have to work… it’s another matter.
“There will be less beautiful matches where we still have to achieve the same result. There will be more balanced matches.”
He commented on the pressures on Fabio Miretti and Nicolo Fagioli.
“The responsibility lies with everyone, more or less young. At Juventus we need to grow more quickly knowing however that it is something physiological.
“Miretti, Fagioli, Cambiaso, Iling, Gatti are growing, we need to see an objective which is that of the final result through performance.”
Allegri was asked about his recent tactical decisions and if he’d drawn up a new system.
“As I have said several times, it is a question of the composition of the squad. We will certainly have lost in experience, but we will certainly have gained in the enthusiasm and dynamism of all the players.
“We must be happy, work in this direction. Knowing that we must run more than the others, going faster. Looking for those results that make the team grow in self-esteem. The fact of consolidating in the top four positions.
“That’s why all this euphoria, the enthusiasm around, must be kept at bay, otherwise we’ll hurt ourselves. We need to stay very calm. Let’s think about tomorrow, it’s complicated and difficult to deal with in the best way. Too much positivity lowers energy.”
He touched on how the Bianconeri could take the top spot in Serie A with a win over Sassuolo and if that was motivating.
“Yes it is, we have to desire things. What you desire gives an extra incentive. Tomorrow, it would allow us to take three points which would bring us closer to the Champions League quota. In a match you don’t decide the objectives however, you need patience.”
The Juventus coach was asked if the team was too immature for the Scudetto race.
“I didn’t say that. The strength of a team is to have balance because that’s how results are achieved. Where balance reigns it’s easier to obtain results. A victory shouldn’t move us, we’re only in the fourth match.
“The day where there will be a draw or a defeat, it’s not that everything collapses. There are teams better equipped than Juventus and we have to fight with these teams. At the end of the year, we will see where we will be.
“One thing is certain: due to the way the squad has been structured, this is a team with a future.
“Later this year if we were to reach the top four, with Juventus having made a cyclical generation change. This is normal for a team that win for so long, they risk remaining out of the Champions League.”
He touched on if Sassuolo’s Domenico Berardi would’ve been useful for his squad.
“This summer there were various talks but we decided to stay with this group of players. Tomorrow, we hope Berardi doesn’t perform as usual as he does against Juve.”
Allegri discussed Moise Kean’s hopes of returning to the Italy national team.
“Spalletti’s visit was a great pleasure, we are available to put the players in the best conditions for the national team.
“From a national perspective we have many players. We are committed to Juventus but also to the national team.”
He spoke about the health of Weston McKennie.
“Well, he took a knock the other day but he’s fine. Weah is a good change, he needs to know the league but I’m very happy with the boy.”
Finally, Allegri was asked about the decision to include sporting commitments in the Italian constitution.
“I’m very happy, I believe that young kids need to be educated in nutrition and in playing sports. The numbers in Italy have changed, there is much more obesity among kids, and they need to be educated in doing sports. I am very happy with this introduction into the Italian constitution.”