Juventus Coach Max Allegri says Serie A is still open, and discusses Bayern Munich and Paulo Dybala.
The 48-year-old just saw his positive streak broken as he lost 3-0 to Inter in the Coppa Italia, but the aggregate 3-3 result eventually let the Bianconeri through on penalties.
Juventus Coach Max Allegri says Serie A is still open, and discusses Bayern Munich and Paulo Dybala.
The 48-year-old just saw his positive streak broken as he lost 3-0 to Inter in the Coppa Italia, but the aggregate 3-3 result eventually let the Bianconeri through on penalties.
“It was a positive night,” he told Il Corriere dello Sport. “We lost after very many games, but we made it into the final of the Coppa Italia. It was the sweetest defeat that could have happened to us, and it was useful for our development, as I fielded many lads of 22 or 23 years.
“Against Milan it'll be a good challenge. Against them, as against Inter, it's always a fascinating match.
“Napoli can still win many games, we must be careful and take things one match at a time.
“Sarri was very good in developing a playing system capable of bringing out the quality in Napoli.
“His intuition to field [Marek] Hamsik as a half-winger was excellent. He's a very good player and he'd have taken up the same position in my Juventus.
“As for [Gonzalo] Higuain, he scored 25 goals. Along with [Robert] Lewandowski and [Luis] Suarez, he's one of the best poachers in the world. There's also [Karim] Benzema, when he is fit.”
In spite of the eight-point lead over Roma and Fiorentina, Allegri refuses to rule them out of the race.
“Roma can realize a sequence. They can win them all from here until the end. The quality of their players is excellent and [Coach Luciano] Spalletti instilled them with a new playing style.
“They could potentially reach 86 points and they can exploit games against their direct opponents.
“[Fiorentina Coach] Paulo Sousa already surprised me when he was at Basilea. He's smart and he immediately understood our football.
“The Coaching awards? I'll vote for [Stefano] Pioli, he had a superb season with Lazio.
“Inter? Their decline just shows how difficult football is. You must be skilled to live in a balance, without ever becoming euphoric when things go well or depressed when they go bad.”
Finally, the tactician was questioned about the upcoming game against Bayern Munich, which follows from the 2-2 in the first leg.
“It's extremely hard, but I believe in it. When you play one of the favourites in a two-leg match, it's important to boil it down to one game.
“Dybala as the 'killer baby'? You just have to look him in the eyes. He has the face of a child, but the gaze of an assassin. In a couple of years he can reach the top, just behind Ronaldo and Messi.
“I'm glad he scored against Bayern, otherwise many people would have said that he's poor in Europe.”