Max Allegri congratulated Paulo Dybala on the goal against Frosinone, warned it’s “crucial” to score in Madrid and discussed Mauro Icardi links with Juventus.
“The team is growing in terms of fitness. Aside from the hiccup against Parma, we have done well in Serie A, we’ve shaken off the problems caused by the Winter break and are in good shape for the Champions League,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia.
Max Allegri congratulated Paulo Dybala on the goal against Frosinone, warned it’s “crucial” to score in Madrid and discussed Mauro Icardi links with Juventus.
“The team is growing in terms of fitness. Aside from the hiccup against Parma, we have done well in Serie A, we’ve shaken off the problems caused by the Winter break and are in good shape for the Champions League,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia.
Dybala, Leonardo Bonucci and Cristiano Ronaldo were on target in the 3-0 victory, which saw Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini return from injury lay-offs.
“When there are players returning from injuries, I think it’s good to put them in from the start and let them loose.”
Dybala opened the scoring with a scorcher on his first start since the touchline row and he hadn’t scored in Serie A since November.
“I am happy for Paulo, as strikers live to score goals. Juventus need a player who works between the lines and Dybala is very good at that.
“The only issue is that for a few years we had one forward and now we have two. It means the build-up play is a little different, so there aren’t as many spaces to run into, but I watched Dybala make the right moves and passes, he just wasn’t scoring as many goals.”
Juve tried not to rest stars tonight, using it as a dress rehearsal for Wednesday’s Champions League Round of 16 trip to Atletico Madrid.
“The game against Atletico Madrid will be very different, we must be warier and find the right moment to score. It’s crucial that we get a goal there, otherwise qualification would be rather difficult to achieve.
“A lot depends on who is the right-back and therefore who is the mezz’ala. Douglas Costa will also join the squad next week after his injury. It’s going to be a very physical game against Atletico Madrid.”
Allegri was asked about director Fabio Paratici’s confession that Juventus tried to sign Icardi, who is currently frozen out at Inter.
“Icardi is a centre-forward who scores goals. He is young, has a long road ahead of him, but I always say in order to really evaluate a player, you need to train him. Talent scouts see them a different way to a Coach.”