Juventus Coach Max Allegri acknowledges “we have more chance to win” the Champions League with Cristiano Ronaldo but “take it one step at a time”.
The Bianconeri signed the Portuguese superstar for €100m this summer, which has been interpreted by most as a signal that they’re going all-out to win in Europe.
“The arrival of Ronaldo has increased the self-esteem,” Allegri confirmed in his pre-Valencia Press conference.
Juventus Coach Max Allegri acknowledges “we have more chance to win” the Champions League with Cristiano Ronaldo but “take it one step at a time”.
The Bianconeri signed the Portuguese superstar for €100m this summer, which has been interpreted by most as a signal that they’re going all-out to win in Europe.
“The arrival of Ronaldo has increased the self-esteem,” Allegri confirmed in his pre-Valencia Press conference.
“The best player in the world has arrived, the one who has shared everything with [Leo] Messi in the past few years.
“Juve have played two finals in the last four years and have been eliminated [before that] twice, once in extra-time and once in Madrid with a 93rd-minute penalty.
“So it’s not like Juventus find ourselves suddenly fighting for the Champions League this year.
“In recent years we’ve achieved results, grown in confidence, and it’s normal that this year we have more chance to win it.
“That said, we need to start by getting three points tomorrow, and the final isn’t until May.
“I believe that what Juventus have achieved and maintained means we now have to aim to be among the best four in the Champions League.
“I hear all this talk about Juventus being favourite, but I’d say we need to take it one step at a time.
“Tomorrow we have a game that isn’t easy, because it’s not easy to play and win here. There’s a stadium that really pushes the team, when the game seems dead it just takes a foul on the wing to inflame the crowd again.
“Tomorrow is a difficult game upon which our path in the Champions League rests. If we win tomorrow the path will be easier, if we draw we’re well placed and if we get a negative result then it becomes an uphill struggle.
“Football matches have to be played on the pitch, because in August everyone can win the Champions League and the Scudetto.
“Winning everything now doesn’t exist, we need to think about winning one game. We’re thinking about getting to December 30, where we want to be in the next round of the Champions League and leading the league.
“Then there’s the break, the Supercoppa and the second half of the season, which is what counts. To make it count though, you have to do well in the first half.
“Right now talking about certain things isn’t necessary, we’re one of the four or five favourites to win the Champions League.
“But this is such a strange competition that if a ball bounces in your favour you can go to the final, if two or three are out with flu it becomes more difficult.
“Let’s start by thinking about tomorrow’s game, then we’ll see.”