Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri insists his side are not inferior to tomorrow’s opponents Atletico Madrid.
The Bianconeri will host the Spanish champions in a crucial Champions League tie on Tuesday evening, with Allegri’s side able to qualify top of the group or drop out of the competition altogether depending on results.
The Colchoneros reached the final of this tournament last season, but the Juventus boss insists he doesn’t feel any jealousy toward Atleti Coach Diego Simeone and the players at his disposal.
Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri insists his side are not inferior to tomorrow’s opponents Atletico Madrid.
The Bianconeri will host the Spanish champions in a crucial Champions League tie on Tuesday evening, with Allegri’s side able to qualify top of the group or drop out of the competition altogether depending on results.
The Colchoneros reached the final of this tournament last season, but the Juventus boss insists he doesn’t feel any jealousy toward Atleti Coach Diego Simeone and the players at his disposal.
“I don’t envy Atletico Madrid,” Allegri explained in his Press conference ahead of the match.
“Fortunately I am Juventus Coach, so I’m training a team which is not only made up of good players, but lads with the right mentality.
“I think that’s the main asset this team has, because otherwise they wouldn’t have been able to win three Serie A titles in a row, the [two] Super Cups and be leading the League again this season and be on the verge of qualifying for the next round of the Champions League.
“It’s hard to say if we’re stronger than them or less strong, we’re two very good teams, and this year we have the opportunity to make it to the knockout stages and try to have a good Champions League campaign.
“I have a strong team, which is capable of playing in these kind of matches as we demonstrated in the first five group games. Even though we lost in Madrid and Athens I think that was undeserved.
“We were a bit too cautious in Madrid, and in Athens we didn’t score, but the team has always given consistent performances.
“Tomorrow we’re at home, we have the fans on our side, and we are in good condition.
“We’re facing a team that has won 10 out of their last 11 games so we know it will be a very difficult game.
“For Juventus to improve upon what we did last season, we must qualify for the Last 16. It’s our number one goal.
“The League is a different thing, because it will be decided at the end of May, so at the moment qualification is our main target, and tomorrow we have a chance to hit it.”
Allegri has previous with Atletico, after the Spaniards knocked out his former side Milan last season with a crushing 5-1 aggregate victory, after the Coach had been dismissed in January.
However, the former Rossoneri Coach is adamant that tomorrow’s game is a very different contest.
“Last year was a different situation, because it was a Last 16 game, so it was in-or-out.
“This year it’s a game where we’re playing for first place [in the group], and they’re trying to defend first place.
“We’re playing both for top spot and for qualification, while they only have to think about defending first place.
“So it’s definitely a different game from last year, not least because of the situation.”