Max Allegri gave a revealing interview about why he became a Coach, using “wildcard” Oscar and differences with Antonio Conte.
The tactician sat down with La Repubblica for a lengthy discussion of his career, starting from his family’s difficult financial situation when his father worked at the docks and his mother was a nurse.
He also confirmed that he is studying English (“though my brain is in worse condition than my legs now”) and will launch an app for Coaches describing his methods.
Max Allegri gave a revealing interview about why he became a Coach, using “wildcard” Oscar and differences with Antonio Conte.
The tactician sat down with La Repubblica for a lengthy discussion of his career, starting from his family’s difficult financial situation when his father worked at the docks and his mother was a nurse.
He also confirmed that he is studying English (“though my brain is in worse condition than my legs now”) and will launch an app for Coaches describing his methods.
“I was a mediocre player and have no regrets about that. In 2000 I was at Pescara, aged 32, and in the middle of a training session the pitch suddenly looked the length of an airport runway. I decided to retire at that moment.
“A while later I reflected on all the times I argued with Coaches because I was defending my ideas of football. So I said to myself, why not try to make them happen yourself?
“The strength of a Coach is creativity and being able to deal with unpredictable events. You can prepare a game, but not predict it. I’ve been known to form a line-up on Friday afternoon and transform it on Sunday based on intuition. The best time is 7.30am, when I tend to contradict myself.
“The last time it happened was before the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid. A light went on in my head. I’ll play Sturaro and move Vidal to a more attacking wide role. They said I was mad, but I was right.
“I am very sure of myself. I say things straight, so don’t expect gratitude or empathy. I’m also good at hiding behind a lie at the right moment.”
Allegri said he’d like to bring in a trequartista for Juventus next season, naming the potential targets.
“Without Carlos Tevez and Andrea Pirlo, Juve will have to change and experiment new solutions. I’d like someone able to invent football without being banal, the wild card variable in an otherwise balanced tactical plan.
“I like Isco of Real Madrid and the Brazilian Oscar. Among the Italians, I’d say Domenico Berardi and Federico Bernardeschi.”
Juventus fans protested at Allegri’s arrival, but he has won them over and even surpassed Conte’s record in the Champions League.
“I think in terms of ambition, nothing separates me from Conte. He won three consecutive Scudetti, I want the fifth in a row. I accepted Juventus also to prove people wrong, as I have some doubters that need to reconsider their opinions.
“I find that if you spend nights studying games on TV, you lose sharpness. I just need five minutes and my staff takes care of the rest. They are paid to be better than me!”