Roberto De Zerbi expressed his ‘admiration’ for Andrea Pirlo’s Juventus, as this season they have ‘something different,’ but Sassuolo won’t change their approach.
It kicks off on Sunday at 19.45 GMT, click here for a match preview.
The Neroverdi go into this weekend just one point behind Juve, even if the Bianconeri have a game in hand.
Roberto De Zerbi expressed his ‘admiration’ for Andrea Pirlo’s Juventus, as this season they have ‘something different,’ but Sassuolo won’t change their approach.
It kicks off on Sunday at 19.45 GMT, click here for a match preview.
The Neroverdi go into this weekend just one point behind Juve, even if the Bianconeri have a game in hand.
“Everything that Sassuolo has become seems to be taken for granted, but the truth is that we are having huge problems over the last few months and that makes our results even more extraordinary,” said De Zerbi in his press conference.
“Even in the games where we faltered, we never changed our identity or lost our courage. Losing to Milan, Inter or Atalanta can happen, because these are stronger teams than we are, but we won’t change our approach because of that.
“We’ve already said that we won’t shy away from any objective, but that doesn’t mean we are somehow obliged to then achieve it. We are clear and realistic, not like those who try to pretend they are not competing for certain targets in a bid to lower the pressure, but are fooling nobody.
“On the other hand, I also won’t stand for my players being judged negatively even when beating Genoa to have 29 points in 16 rounds. Nobody seems to acknowledge what Sassuolo are doing.
“Sassuolo are confirming our status as a surprise and that is tougher than people realise. I don’t know where we will end up, but we must have some sense of balance in the way we judge expectations. If someone gets blinded by the lights and gets it wrong, that’s not our fault.”
Andrea Pirlo expressed admiration for De Zerbi’s approach to football and the feeling is mutual.
“Juve are a team to be respected, with strong players and who play good football. I admire them more this year, as they have something different compared to the others.”
Domenico Berardi is out with a thigh strain, so Sassuolo will face Juventus without their talisman.
“We have a big enough squad, so any absentee can be replaced in the best possible way. Berardi is a decisive player, not just with his football, but also his character. Having said that, we have the alternatives which allow us to go to Turin and get a result.
“I don’t ask for any new players, just to have my most decisive players in good shape, like Filip Djuricic, Ciccio Caputo, Jeremie Boga and Francesco Magnanelli, the ones who can make the difference. I’ll play them even when they are not at 100 per cent, because I know they can only reach 100 per cent by playing.”