Lorenzo Bettoni takes you behind the scenes of Juventus‘ last Champions League game against PSG, including a furious Massimiliano Allegri and how Chiesa prepared for his comeback.
The Bianconeri were been dropped to Europa League after a miserable Champions League campaign, where they collected just three points in six matches. However, their final game in Europe’s elite competition this season saw them play on par with Ligue 1 giants PSG who eventually sealed a 2-1 win that was not enough to win Group H.
Football Italia was among the accredited media at the Allianz Stadium on Wednesday night and brings you the four things you may have missed by watching the match on TV.
Chiesa’s return
The Italy star returned to the pitch for the first time in nearly ten months. He had sustained a cruciate ligament injury on January 10 against Roma and even if Allegri said on the eve of the game that the talented winger would not feature against PSG, he was introduced for the final 15 minutes.
Chiesa, Juventus’ first No.7 since Cristiano Ronaldo left, looked highly focused during the warm-up, knowing that he could have been given a chance in the second half. He was the last one to enter the pitch for the brief training session before kick-off but didn’t join his teammates for the shooting practice. He was welcomed by the Allianz Stadium’s ovation, which was way louder when he made his official return to the pitch at minute 74.
Praise for Mbappé and Messi, insults for Donnarumma
Kylian Mbappé and Leo Messi received a similar reception to Cristiano Ronaldo when the Portuguese star scored his famous bicycle kick goal in Turin in 2018, months before his move to Juventus. The Allianz Stadium crowd applauded both PSG stars but was not as nice to Gigio Donnarumma, who was often insulted with abusive chants.
The Italy international was in talks to join Juventus as a free agent in 2021 but eventually picked PSG also because the Bianconeri didn’t put a concrete offer on the table, relying on their starting goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. The last time he had played at the Allianz Stadium with Italy a year, all fans clapped Donnarumma.
Furious Max Allegri
The Italian tactician hoped to get away with a draw and was absolutely furious when his lads conceded through Nuno Mendes in the second half. The Portuguese full-back found space down the left flank and beat Szczesny at the far post. Max screamed at his players and pointed his head as if to say that they should have been more focused.
Allegri also didn’t look happy in his post-match press conference when he said he and the players are distraught after their Champions League elimination.
Verratti pushing for one more goal
Marco Verratti was subbed off in the second half but was still very much involved from the touchline. Once PSG players found out that Benfica had scored a late goal against Maccabi in Israel, Verratti urged his teammates on the pitch to score one more to get more away goals than the Portuguese side and qualify for the Round of 16 as group winners. Unfortunately for the Ligue 1 giants, it was already too late and their 2-1 win in Turin means they will be not be among the seeded teams in the Champions League draw on Monday.