Max Allegri warns “there are no easy games” as Juventus prepare to face Lyon in the Champions League.
The French side have lost three of their last four games in all competitions, but the Coach is expecting a tough test at Parc OL tomorrow.
“When you play in the Champions League there’s no such thing as difficult games and easy games,” Allegri warned.
“Lyon had a good game against Sevilla, then in their last game they played Nice and went behind early which made it difficult to recover.
Max Allegri warns “there are no easy games” as Juventus prepare to face Lyon in the Champions League.
The French side have lost three of their last four games in all competitions, but the Coach is expecting a tough test at Parc OL tomorrow.
“When you play in the Champions League there’s no such thing as difficult games and easy games,” Allegri warned.
“Lyon had a good game against Sevilla, then in their last game they played Nice and went behind early which made it difficult to recover.
“Tomorrow will be a difficult game, because the Champions League is difficult to play in, both for them and for us.
“Lyon are a tricky team, especially at home, and they have quality players up-front in [Nabil] Fakir and [Alexandre] Lacazette. They’re an organised team, and they play differently at home compared to how they play away.
“Fekir and Lacazette are two great players, really good on a technical level. They’re quick and very good on the counter-attack, so we have to be especially careful in those situations.”
Allegri was then asked what would represent a proud achievement in the Champions League this season.
“Pride for me this year would mean going through. It’s better to finish top, but the next stage is crucial because it would be the seventh year in a row that one of my teams made it to the next round in the Champions League.
“So that would be a major achievement.
“As for the growth of the team, there’s been a steady improvement in Europe. Basically, we played the final [against Barcelona] on June 7 [2015] and in a year and a half we’ve changed 16 players, 10 last year and six this year.
“Fortunately the club provided me with good players and the team has grown since starting six years ago.”
Some pundits have accused the Old Lady of playing badly but grinding out results, but the tactician brushes that off.
“It doesn’t bother me at all, partly because the season lasts 38 games,” Allegri shrugged.
“I’m pretty confident that, given it lasts for 38 hard games, it’s not easy for a team to win if they play 38 bad games.
“In the end what matters is the final result, on May 31 when the League season ends, and you have to be on top then. Because then next year, in the roll of honour, they’ll write who won the League, not who played well and who played badly.
“That said, there are some teams who have played really well, Napoli and Milan are playing good football.
“Milan are returning to fight for the top three positions and the Champions League, they’re doing really well and they have good kids, good players.
“Just the same, Roma played really well on Saturday [against Napoli], but there are moments.
“Juventus have our own techniques and character, and we have to use that to try and get through and try to win in all the competitions we compete in. That’s the most important thing.
“We’ll work to play better, and sometimes our rivals will play a bit worse.
“The lads have taken seven wins out of eight in the League, the only game we lost was in Milan against Inter and now we have to keep going.
“Right now the important thing is to pick up points in the Champions League and progress in the Champions League.”