Max Allegri warns Juventus must treat FC Nantes as a ‘Final’ for the Europa League last 16 and qualification could be decided in extra time.
The first leg ended 1-1 in Turin, so all the pressure is on the Bianconeri, who must win in France to secure passage to the Europa League Round of 16.
Federico Chiesa, Paul Pogba, Arkadiusz Milik and Fabio Miretti have not made the trip across the Alps due to injury.
“Unfortunately, Chiesa is out, but that is natural when you have been out for 10 months for knee surgery, it takes a while to reach full fitness,” said Allegri in his press conference.
“The whole team has to play with the right approach, we must not allow Nantes what we did in the first leg. We must also remember this tie could go to extra time, so we cannot play with three upfront. We need players who can come off the bench and change the game.”
Nantes coach Antoine Kombouaré said in his press conference earlier today that all the pressure is on Juventus, who would be ‘humiliated’ to lose this play-off, whereas the Ligue 1 side have nothing to lose.
“We need to go through because in the last three years we went out in the Champions League Round of 16,” replied Allegri.
“I see tomorrow as a Final, a one-off, because away goals no longer count double. We will play it on their turf and fight it out on level terms for passage to the next phase. It’s 50-50 for qualification.
“It won’t be easy, as Nantes have some good players like Blas, who is left-footed, and the strikers tend to track back to help the defence. They are dangerous on the counter-attack.
“Winning away from home in Europe is never easy. We know the atmosphere we’ll face at the start of the game and we must shake it off. We must prepare for 90 minutes and hope that will be enough, that is our objective.”
It is particularly tricky for Juventus, who haven’t managed an away victory since the trip to Zenit St Petersburg in October 2021.
Allegri insists he has not yet decided who to start between Juan Cuadrado and Mattia De Sciglio, as the Colombian is back after suffering from flu symptoms.
Manuel Locatelli will certainly start, as he is suspended in Serie A for the upcoming Derby della Mole against Torino.
“Aside from his technical qualities, Manuel also has moral qualities that make him a real Juventus player, now and in the future. He has the specific DNA of a player who can spend many years at Juventus.”