Max Allegri admits Juventus must do ‘a great deal of work’ with Adrien Rabiot, but after the 2-0 win over Cagliari, he’d be ‘very happy’ to still be four points off fourth place come February.
It was again not the most thrilling performance, and Wojciech Szczesny needed a great fingertip save on Joao Pedro’s header, but Moise Kean and Federico Bernardeschi got the goals for a 2-0 victory.
This was Bernardeschi’s first goal in 43 Serie A games, going back to July 2020, and he received a standing ovation from the crowd at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin.
Serie A | Juventus 2-0 Cagliari: Kean and Bernardeschi breakthrough
Allegri was asked about the shift moving Kean to centre-forward and Alvaro Morata in the wider role during the first half.
“Morata was getting irritable, he wasn’t attacking the space or moving, so I preferred to move Kean into a centre-forward role. Morata then relaxed, had a bit more space when starting from wide and it worked well,” Allegri told DAZN.
Juve continue to struggle contributing goals from their midfielders and the coach pin-pointed the on-going issues with France international Rabiot.
“I think Adrien can really do damage with his shot from distance, but perhaps it’s because he plays internationally for France in a two-man midfield, he just doesn’t make the right movements or has the right timing to get the shot away.
“He didn’t read the game well at all today and we have to do a great deal of work with him. I asked the lads to try shooting from distance today and Bernardeschi had a couple before finding the net.”
Juventus have rediscovered their results recently and with Atalanta’s slowdown, they are now just four points off fourth place.
“I would be happy to reach the end of February with this gap so we can challenge for the top four. I would be very pleased with that situation,” continued Allegri.
“We have a lot of head-to-head clashes in January and February, so after that our fixture list could become simpler, while the others all face each other. We had 11 points in head-to-head clashes, but where we’re missing points is in the other fixtures.”
Bianconeri CEO Maurizio Arrivabene said before kick-off about Paulo Dybala and Matthijs de Ligt that nowadays players have more loyalty towards their agents than the club colours.
“I have nothing to say. De Ligt had a very good game today, Leo is transmitting the Juventus values to him. Paulo is a great player, we’re waiting for him to get to full fitness,” added Allegri.
“The important thing will be having everyone in good shape for January and February.”
That is superb technique from Federico Bernardeschi!
He finds the bottom corner with a perfect strike to double Juve’s lead 🤌 pic.twitter.com/nwyk1n8UK5
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) December 21, 2021
Bernadeschi takes a lot of abuse, but he always tries. And recently he has upped his skill level and got the assists and goals. In fact he has been involved in most of Juves goals in the last few games. Keep up the good work and improve!
As for Alegri, well I guess he is right to say that the end of the season is an easier run of fixtures. But Juve should SIGN players and look to get really high up the table- not just scape 4th place!
Adrien‘s mom will be angry.
I have a lot of time for Federico Bernardeschi; he always works hard and Allegri trusts him which obviously has given him the confidence to play more of his natural game within the framework of the team. I would be working on offering him a new contract, because, on the list of players who should be moved on, Bernardeschi is way down the list. He cannot be allowed to leave on a free next summer.
Wrong approach by the bald idiot known as Allegri. Throwing players under the bus in this way rarely works. Its a good way to lose the dressing room and respect of players. Please at the very least fire Allegri again afyer this season. He is clearly not the way forward. Hes an old fashioned coach with no respect for his players. Hes arrogant and too much of a loser, too stubborn for a tean like this. Please please get rid of him he is like a cancer now.
Everyone needs to calm down and stop blowing wind up Berna’s rear end. He scored his first goal in something like nearly 2 years and all of a sudden he should be renewed. He has been a colossal waste for the price paid. There cannot be sentiment when we need to be ruthless. As for Allegri he was right to pull Rabiot off but he is also clueless for starting 3 slow players in the middle. They cannot link up play and move the ball quick enough. The Allegri project is 4 years. He will not be canned even if they fail to make top 4. If repeated next year or not challenging for the title then he might be axed. Expect no big signings as there is no money. The best route is a slow one by investing in the best young Italians out there. Forget about Vlahovic and get Scamacca as well as Raspadori.
Juve should put more work on refs.. more effective approach to win these farmer league
@azzkikr
You call it a farmer league, which suggests you don’t care for it, so why are you in here reading about it
It was an unfortunate happening that Piemonte Calcio managed to catch 4th place last season, while this one seems much more competitive. Atalanta and Napoli will be at the top with Inter, Milan might be able to finish top4. Unfortunately for Allegri, the Turin-based club is lacking quality in midfield compared to other squads.
@Azzkikr: hey man, great to see you`re alive & kickin`! FIF misses you, could you please consider coming back to the forum?
In any case, wishing you all the best.
D
I MISS JUVENTUS IN SERIE B: In Serie A anything can happen and when you assume you got it right then you will get it wrong ! I have seen 2nd place 1 point behind First at the end of November and finish 9th ! In case you forget, that was Inter ……. i also seen 3rd place 6 points behind First with 6 games left in the season and win it ! That was Juventus on the Historic “5 Maggio” Anything is possible – just ask any Interista – Pazza Inter remember ??