Coach Max Allegri analyzes the strengths of Napoli and Juventus and says Daniele Rugani must be given time.
The injuries of Giorgio Chiellini and Martin Caceres have pushed Rugani forward in the pecking order ahead of the game against the Partenopei tomorrow evening, which Allegri recognised to be open.
“Tomorrow's game is open to all results,” he told the Press. “We'll have to be very good.
Coach Max Allegri analyzes the strengths of Napoli and Juventus and says Daniele Rugani must be given time.
The injuries of Giorgio Chiellini and Martin Caceres have pushed Rugani forward in the pecking order ahead of the game against the Partenopei tomorrow evening, which Allegri recognised to be open.
“Tomorrow's game is open to all results,” he told the Press. “We'll have to be very good.
“I'll have to decide today about the three- or four-man defence, but it changes absolutely nothing because we've always played with four men at the back, especially when defending.
“The only thing that changes is the characteristics of the players on the pitch. For us, nothing else is modified.
“Winning would be important of course, but let's think about playing it tomorrow and we'll see how it ends.
“Above all, let's focus on putting in a great performance. In Naples we lost a match after conceding two goals out of two needless mistakes on our side. Though I don't mean to detract from Napoli, who played a good game.
“Tomorrow's game will be completely different. Napoli improved, as a team and individually, and so did we.
“It's going to be a good game between the two teams who will be fighting for the Scudetto until the end.
“I don't think the teams behind us are cut out, because it's still a long championship with many direct games, so we'll need to keep our balance, our cool and our patience until the end.”
The 48-year-old was then asked about the strengths of Napoli and Juventus respectively.
“Their strength isn't just Higuain, he's only the finisher. They're very well ordered in the defensive phase. They have the second best defence after Juventus and the best offence. The numbers, and not the strength of an individual player, reveal Napoli's power.
“Juventus have a strength in the youth of their team. On Sunday we finished the game against Frosinone with 5-6 players on the pitch born between 1991 and 1994. That's saying much, for a team that competes for the Scudetto.
“Regardless of how this championship ends, Juventus have a future for the next years with these players.
“[Daniele] Rugani? He's a kid, he's good, he's young. He came here from Empoli with only one Serie A campaign under his belt.
“At Juventus he met four players among the strongest in Europe ahead of him and had to adapt to a completely different playing system.
“He must not be pressured. The same people who want him on the pitch now will crucify him as soon as he makes a mistake.
“Managing Rugani and the other youngsters is down to me, so I have to do this to my best. Rugani is and will be the future of Juventus and Italian football. Best not to hurry.
“He developed a lot in the last two months and his increased playing time is evidence of that, but this is not a reason to heighten the pressure on him. He's young and he must do what he can right now.”