Multiple sources claim Juventus players didn’t expect to spend the night at the club’s hotel before a Coppa Italia game against Lazio, but Massimiliano Allegri wanted to keep the team focused and didn’t even hold a pre-match press conference on Monday.
Juventus will host Lazio at the Allianz Stadium in Turin tonight in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-finals. The Old Lady lost 1-0 to the Biancocelesti on Saturday in Serie A, so Allegri will seek a reaction from his team. The Coppa Italia is also Juventus’ last chance to win a trophy this season.
Juventus players remained at the team’s hotel last night, but, as reported by Il Corriere della Sera and Calciomercato.com, it’s a decision they didn’t expect although the club insisted the training retreat was not punitive.
Reports claim Juventus footballers were ‘surprised’ to learn they would spend the night away from home, but Allegri wanted to avoid distractions before a key match.
The Livorno-born coach was not impressed to see some players smile on the pitch after Saturday’s loss to Lazio, so he decided to keep the team at Continassa overnight.
The 56-year-old didn’t hold a pre-match press conference before the match, contrary to what he usually does on the eve of every competitive game.
But it was OK for him to smile after the game and during the press conference.