Max Allegri explains his tactical and personnel choices for tonight’s Champions League trip to Villarreal. ‘I don’t need to protect Dusan Vlahovic.’
The first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 kicks off at 20.00 GMT.
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
“It is going to be a complicated match, a Round of 16 against an experienced side that has technique and physicality,” Allegri told Mediaset Infinity just before kick-off.
“Unai Emery is a coach who allows very few chances. We need focus and intensity with a good performance leading into the second leg.”
Allegri is without injured Paulo Dybala, Giorgio Chiellini, Daniele Rugani, Federico Chiesa and Federico Bernardeschi, while Leonardo Bonucci and Luca Pellegrini are only fit for the bench.
January buy Dusan Vlahovic starts, but Denis Zakaria is on the bench.
“I had to choose between Adrien Rabiot, Zakaria, Manuel Locatelli and Arthur. McKennie took the place of Dybala, while Soule is ready to play if needed and with Moise Kean we have room for rotation. We hope to have a great game.”
In the warm-up, it looked as if Danilo was the right-back, Alex Sandro in central defence and Mattia De Sciglio on the left. Is it a 4-3-3?
“I don’t know about that, look the important thing is to do well when we have the ball. It’s going to be a difficult match, we need to keep calm for 95 minutes.”
It has been suggested Allegri is ‘protecting’ Vlahovic from media pressure after his €75m plus bonuses move.
“I don’t need to protect him. It is his Champions League debut, so he needs to just stay calm, do what he knows how to do, without letting too many thoughts cloud his head.”
🌟 Matthijs de Ligt
🌟 Manuel Locatelli
🌟 Dušan Vlahović@petercrouch is looking forward to seeing how Juventus’ young spine handles the pressure of the #UCLOwen Hargreaves thinks the Old Lady will be happy to leave Spain with a draw ⚫️⚪️ pic.twitter.com/yNHCv7qpVZ
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 22, 2022