Massimiliano Allegri noted how Juventus need to face Cagliari ‘with serenity, humility and respect’, not allowing distractions with the Derby d’Italia on the horizon.
Without any European commitments this season, Juventus have started their league campaign well and currently sit second in the table after 11 games, just two points behind league leaders Inter.
Assuming both sides have a positive weekend, the title race will take a key swing in the coming Derby d’Italia on November 26.
Before then, Allegri’s Juventus will face off against strugglers Cagliari, who have found an upswing in form in recent weeks, picking up seven points in their last three games.
Speaking in a press conference via TMW, Allegri first discussed the importance of Juventus’ clash with Cagliari from a mentality point of view.
“It’s important from all points of view, for the table and to close this cycle. Tomorrow’s points will at least help us maintain our points lead over fifth place.”
He confirmed who his starting goalkeeper would be.
“Szczesny will play, unfortunately this year by not playing the cups we have fewer games, and it will be a more difficult year for Perin because he will play a little less.”
The Juventus coach also confirmed his choice of captain for the clash with Cagliari.
“It will be Locatelli, fresh from renewal, and we will give him a nice prize.”
He spoke about if Federico Gatti would start, and the threats posed by Cagliari.
“Gatti will be out tomorrow, we can’t take any risks. Tomorrow is the most important match. Cagliari are very dangerous, Ranieri on the bench doesn’t give you any advantages. They have players up front who have speed and technique, Petagna and Pavoletti who provide physicality.
“Tomorrow will be difficult, we will need to have a lot of patience. We will need to play a game of technique and above all not to lose the most important thing which is the unity of the team. The mistake around the corner is to overdo it.
“Tomorrow there is no need to overdo it, but to do the normality. When the match ends, we need to bring home the three points.”
Allegri was asked if it was difficult to focus on Cagliari with the Derby d’Italia fast approaching.
“The match against Cagliari is difficult, not so much because we have Inter and the break first. We have a period of important results, it can lower our attention and energy.
“They must be faced with serenity, humility and respect, without thinking about that, which will be in 15 days.
“Tomorrow’s match is important, otherwise we’ll throw away what we’ve done in the last few matches.”
He commented on the team’s strong defence and any possible January reinforcements.
“Football is not an exact science, every year it’s different from the others. I see that they’re a group of extraordinary guys, the objective is at the end of the season, and we need to continue working with a low profile.
“Alex Sandro and Weah will return after the break, I don’t think Danilo will. I haven’t talked about the transfer market with the club, we are a cohesive group and the strength of this group are those who don’t play who keep the intensity very high.”
The Juventus coach was asked if he’d take inspiration from Milan’s work to bring back Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“These are club decisions. I’m thinking of the players, the staff, those who work at Continassa. Then they are things that other people will decide, for the good of the club.”
Allegri touched on the possible replacements for Adrien Rabiot.
“We have Locatelli, McKennie, Miretti, Nicolussi and Nonge. They’re all doing well, it’s not easy. The fact that those who play and then those who come on to make their contribution is an important factor. We need to put personal objectives aside and put ourselves at the service of the team.”
He was asked if he’d changed over the last 15 years, when he was previously at Cagliari.
“I have certainly changed, I was lucky enough to coach a Cagliari with very good players, we had a lot of fun. I made some leaps forward training for four years at Milan, this is the eighth at Juve.
“It’s normal for one to grow and try to improve, I believe that in twenty years of career there has never been one year the same as another. I have extraordinary memories in Cagliari, I have friends.”
Finally, Allegri discussed the work of Italian teams in Europe this season and the state of injured defender Danilo.
“I don’t know what happened in Europe. In Italy there is a tendency to belittle the value we have. The Italian teams have always done well in Europe, then it can go better or worse. The Italians are doing well.
“This is why we must have the objective of returning to the Champions League, which is a motivation and an important 360-degree showcase. We have to be very careful with Danilo, what he had was not a big thing but a profound one.
“Let’s take one step at a time, if he were to return for Inter it would be a lot better but otherwise, I prefer not to risk him.”
“with serenity, humility and respect”, lol, basically he wants to face them as a bunch of farmers.