Max Allegri insists Juventus fans should not complain about a 1-0 win over Spezia. ‘If you want to reach your objectives, you have to play these games and win while suffering.’
The Bianconeri have won nine of their last 14 competitive matches, drawing the other five, extending their unbeaten run with a 1-0 against Spezia this evening.
Alvaro Morata’s early goal, scored after goalkeeper Ivan Provedel’s poor clearance was intercepted, proved enough to get all three points.
“It was a good start, we should’ve had more than two goals in the first half. Then some fatigue set in, which can happen when you have so many players out and cannot rotate,” Allegri told DAZN.
“If you want to reach your objectives, you have to play these games with suffering and it was important to bring home the three points. We need to prepare for Sampdoria, then Villarreal and continue this cycle in the best possible way.”
This hard-working and humble approach was not something Juve fans had become accustomed to under the coaches who followed Allegri, namely Maurizio Sarri and Andrea Pirlo.
Allegri has repeatedly insisted the Old Lady are not in the title race, but with Napoli and Milan going head-to-head this evening and Juve closing fast, few believe him.
“I have never seen a team win every game easily. You get to the Champions League and all your targets through performances like this, winning 1-0 with suffering.
“People forget quickly in football, but in my five years we had a lot of 1-0 results spent sitting in our own half for the final 20 minutes. The important thing is not to let anything go in those moments.”
Juventus fans have complained that the Bianconeri aren’t very courageous in these situations and pass sideways or backwards rather than forwards.
“Spezia were pushing forward better in the second half, we allowed them a few efforts and Szczesny made a good save, but we had a few favourable situations too. It’s only natural we’d be a bit tired at the moment.”
Paulo Dybala was on the verge of his comeback when he pulled up with yet another muscular problem.
“It is disappointing, as Paulo stopped in training so was not available. Fortunately it’s nothing serious, so I hope to have him back if not against Sampdoria, then with Villarreal.”