Andrea Barzagli doesn’t expect boss Antonio Conte to ask Juventus” data-scaytid=”3″>Juventus to play differently now that Andrea Pirlo is sidelined.
Andrea Barzagli doesn’t expect boss Antonio Conte to ask Juventus to play differently now that Andrea Pirlo is sidelined.
The playmaker is set to be out of action for around 40 days after picking up a knee ligament problem in the game against Udinese” data-scaytid=”6″>Udinese on Sunday.
“Andrea is important for us, he’s one of the best in the world and lends us his vast experience,” the 32-year-old added.
“Luckily we have excellent players who can come into the midfield, though there’s nobody like him. As a great team, we’ll look to play our own game just the same without him.”
Pirlo limped out of the Udinese game in the first half and the Old Lady only ensured a win thanks to an injury-time Fernando Llorente strike.
“It was a crucial win which arrived in the last minute of a difficult match,” Barzagli continued. “We did well and were fortunate to believe in ourselves.
“Udinese proved themselves to be in a better physical condition than us, and they made us suffer on two occasions when Gigi Buffon made the difference.”
Juventus have won their last six games and they haven’t conceded a goal during that winning streak which has taken them to the top of the table.
“At the beginning we conceded quite a few goals, even though not necessarily more than in other years, perhaps more because of lapses in concentration than anything.
“But after the Fiorentina game we’ve rediscovered that defensive solidarity which is fundamental to winning in Italy.
“It’s to early to talk of us running away with the Scudetto though, we’re still at the beginning. Roma have done extraordinary things so far, and we’ve done well to keep up with them and then overtake.
“But the road ahead is long, and we’re already concentrating on Friday’s game in Bologna.”