Max Allegri confirms both Dusan Vlahovic and Arkadiusz Milik are out of the Juventus squad for their head-to-head with Atalanta. ‘We have to see these situations as motivation.’
It kicks off on Sunday at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT).
“Usually the games against Atalanta are hard-fought, they are in a good period of form, did not concede at home, so we must play with great focus and try to keep a good tempo,” Allegri said in his press conference.
“We already had a head-to-head with Lazio and tomorrow Atalanta are a physical, aggressive team and we must make sure that we are ready. It’s not like the campaign ends tomorrow.”
It is proving to already be an incredibly unpredictable and balanced campaign, as after six rounds not a single team is unbeaten, so that makes the title race wide open too.
“There’s no point looking at the table at this moment, even if staying in the top four would help boost our self-esteem. The team is growing physically too, Adrien Rabiot and Timothy Weah are stepping up a gear.
“We are making the most of not being in the Champions League by trying to work in training and bringing younger or less experienced players through.”
Arkadiusz Milik started the last match and scored the winner against Lecce, but the Poland international and Vlahovic are both out of action tomorrow.
“Vlahovic has the usual back issue that kept him out for a few days last week, he had a lot of pain, so it’s best to let him rest and make the full recovery.
“Moise Kean returns, but Milik is out, as he had a few issues with his calf and it is again best not to risk it. We will have Mancini with us, a lad from the Next Gen team.
“Kean will start tomorrow, in midfield there will be one between Fabio Miretti and Nicoló Fagioli, I will decide tomorrow.”
Juve were jeered off the field at half-time against Lecce before managing to get the fans back on their side.
“We have to see these situations as motivation. If Juventus play in the Champions League next year, it is a result for everyone and the fans can give us a big hand,” added Allegri.
Mattia De Sciglio and Alex Sandro are also still out injured, while Paul Pogba is suspended after failing a doping test and still waiting for the results of the counter-analysis.