Juventus Coach Max Allegri warns against 'switching off' versus Fiorentina the way they did against Roma.
The Old Lady face a very intense schedule, with Monday's Serie A game against Roma and tomorrow's Coppa clash against Fiorentina sandwiched between the two Champions League games against Borussia Dortmund.
Allegri took the opportunity of today's pre-game press conference to look back on the game against the Giallorossi.
Juventus Coach Max Allegri warns against 'switching off' versus Fiorentina the way they did against Roma.
The Old Lady face a very intense schedule, with Monday's Serie A game against Roma and tomorrow's Coppa clash against Fiorentina sandwiched between the two Champions League games against Borussia Dortmund.
Allegri took the opportunity of today's pre-game press conference to look back on the game against the Giallorossi.
“I think the team played a good game for 70 minutes, giving up nothing to Roma and creating some dangerous situations.
“We showed that we were very compact, and also very mature.
“After the goal we did quite well for another 4-5 minutes, then we switched off a little, and when you switch off in a football game it no longer matters if you're 11 versus 10. Nothing matters at all.
“We were faced with a team that had gathered courage and that were throwing themselves forward with nothing to lose.
“At a moment like that, if you slip out of the game, then getting back into it is hard, not to say impossible.
“I think there's a lesson there, and it must help us grow.
“Inbetween the 90 minutes against Dortmund and the 70 minutes against Roma, our team only conceded one goal against Dortmund, and it came after an accident by [Giorgio] Chiellini.
“So I think we did really well for 160 minutes, even though the last 20 minutes ought to be erased.
“They are only important because they teach us that this team still has to improve and that a game is never over till it's over, especially when the two teams are balanced in terms of technique and strength.”
Allegri was also asked whether this was not a recurring problem, as his team arguably 'switched off' against Inter, Sampdoria and Cesena.
“Maybe we still don't understand this concept well enough. Maybe we have to change, in which case finding the way will be down to me.
“I'll have to teach the lads how to handle games like these.
“But these are all different games. Against Sampdoria we allowed one shot, maybe one-and-a-half, and we conceded a goal.
“In Rome we allowed three free kicks in the last 15 minutes, after going 70-75 minutes giving up only one of them.
“This is what I mean when I say that we switched off.
“Against Inter it was yet another game, because we should have closed on a different result after the first half, and we ended up allowing Inter to draw.
“We even took some risks because we almost made the same mistake against Roma as we did against Inter at the last minute, when [goalkeeper Gianluigi] Buffon came all the way out to the midfield.
“These situations show you that you have to keep your head in the game, because once you're out you lose your sense of order.
“Then, when you're in a condition of disorder, the team that desperately chases the game is clearly advantaged.”