Max Allegri defended Andrea Pirlo and assured Juventus” data-scaytid=”3″>Juventus “have a very good chance of qualifying” despite defeat to Olympiacos.
“I imagined this game differently above all in terms of the first half,” the Coach told Sport Mediaset after a 1-0 Champions League loss in Athens.
Max Allegri defended Andrea Pirlo and assured Juventus “have a very good chance of qualifying” despite defeat to Olympiacos.
“I imagined this game differently above all in terms of the first half,” the Coach told Sport Mediaset after a 1-0 Champions League loss in Athens.
“We were bad technically, didn’t move enough and allowed three or four counter-attacks, which were what Olympiacos wanted.
“In the second half we wasted too many scoring opportunities. We leave here with a bitter result and regrets over the first half, but I maintain we still have a very good chance of qualifying.”
It’s a complicated situation, as Atletico Madrid and Olympiacos now have six points, while Juve and Malmo have three apiece.
“I think we made a lot of unforced errors in the first half and couldn’t control the game. Olympiacos pressed us a lot and in fact lost a lot of intensity as time wore on.
“We were too deep and stretched out between the sections in the first half, so we can only take the blame for having played like that.”
Pirlo was particularly disappointing, giving away possession several times, including on the incident that led to the goal.
“I am not worried, as Andrea was out for a long time and just needs match fitness. I played him tonight because I needed someone in front of the defence who could slow the game down and keep the ball while Olympiacos pressed us.
“I’m certain that with time and more fitness work Andrea will return to being the player we all knew.
“Morata proved he had great quality tonight, both in the first and second half.”
Allegri moved to the 4-2-3-1 system in the final 15 minutes, but should Juventus adopt that shape from the start in Europe?
“The idea tonight was to get the ball high up the field, but you need to stay tight and we left some gaps in midfield, staying too stretched out.”