Mark Iuliano has backed Martin Caceres to take his opportunity at centre-back tonight in the absence of Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli.
Mark Iuliano has backed Martin Caceres to take his opportunity at centre-back tonight in the absence of Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli.
Caceres, who returned to the club on an initial loan deal from Sevilla in the summer, is expected to line up alongside Leonardo Bonucci in central defence tonight against Bologna, because of the absence of first-choice pair Chiellini and Barzagli through injury.
Whilst Caceres’ preferred position remains at full-back, former Juventus” data-scaytid=”17″>Juventus utility man Iuliano sees this as an opportunity all the same for the Uruguayan to prove his worth.
“Caceres arrived in January and has done well up to now,” enthused Iuliano to TuttoJuve.com.
“Without the European games it has been difficult to work a space in the team. Usually we use more players.
“Right-back is a closed position to him given the wonderful year [Stephan] Lichtsteiner is having, but Martin is very good and has lots of quality.
“I think leadership played their joker signing Caceres, because he can play multiple roles. There are no issues with him at the moment, but this is an important chance for him and I imagine he’ll take full advantage of it.”
The ex-centre-back Iuliano, now 38, was a member of a Bianconero team that won four Scudetti, so he sees the significance in his former side being able to move back to the top of the table on Wednesday with a win in Emilia-Romagna.
“It comes at a decisive moment. The team must not drop points now, since we have entered the decisive period of the season. Winning tonight pulls the team level with Milan.
“We will see the response tomorrow in the field. For sure without a pair of defenders of this calibre it will not be easy.
“But when you are a Juventus player, even if you play less, you must be found to be ready. So I think the players and the team as a whole are prepared for such an emergency.”