Former Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli said Max Allegri seemed ‘nervous’ during the 1-1 draw with Milan. ‘He’s trying to put it all back together’.
Juventus lost the lead against the Rossoneri and Allegri lost the plot as he stormed off the pitch. The coach explained he’s ‘human too’ during the press conference ahead of the next match against Spezia, and Barzagli said a lot has changed at Juve since the coach was in charge two years ago.
“Allegri was very nervous,” Barzagli told DAZN. “He’s trying to put it all back together.
“I think he will, there’s always tension when you coach Juve. Perhaps Allegri was used to the Juve he had left, where if he started to defend it was difficult to score.
“Two years have passed, the players have changed. He’s trying to give Juve that desire to defend in the moments he says, in the last 10 to 15 minutes you have to close the game.
“Three points against Milan would have relaunched Juve. They have a quality squad and will bounce back, surely.”
Barzagli was asked if he believes Juventus will bounce back, the former technical coach said it depends on the others.
“It also depends on how the others are doing,” he continued. “When you are down, it depends on who you are behind. If they are strong, you have little margin.
“If no one kills the championship, they have time to return.”
Federico Chiesa will start against Spezia tomorrow, but has struggled since returning from international duty and the Milan match ended in a controversial way, as Allegri admitted he made the ‘wrong changes’ against the Rossoneri.
“I think he will find space,” Barzagli said. “He had physical problems and might not have wanted to risk him.
“He’s a determined player and there are few like him. He proved it last year and at the European Championship. Juventus must put him in a position to feel good and he must begin to understand Juve’s winning method, where, at times, you must sacrifice.
“He has only been with Juve for a year, I think Allegri will make him understand.”
Allegri explains his reaction after Milan draw: ‘I’m human too’
Allegri said Matthijs de Ligt will start against the Aquilotti too and Barzagli believes the Holland international will continue to grow with the experience gained at the Bianconeri.
“He has to make a path, in my opinion he has incredible qualities to become a top defender,” Barzagli said. “He’s in a team with no longer two young players in front but experienced players who are doing well.
“He may steal something from the lotus but he has a lot of pressure because they paid €80m and unfortunately, even if you forget it, you always have external pressure.
“Even if you are strong, you are still young, and you need to gain experience, but he still has not shown that he is a top player, a starter for Juve but everyone remembers how much they paid for him.
“It’s not easy to manage this. He’s a serious guy who wants to improve but there can’t be any rush. We need to be calm.”