Hellas Verona coach Ivan Juric said the run-in has been a ‘physical and mental massacre’ and has claimed the Gialloblu would have reached the Europa League without the interruption.
But the 44-year-old thinks it was right to resume play and ‘help football economically’ after the lockdown in Italy.
“It has been a physical and mental massacre,” Juric told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “We played with the health of the players and asked for inhuman efforts.
Hellas Verona coach Ivan Juric said the run-in has been a ‘physical and mental massacre’ and has claimed the Gialloblu would have reached the Europa League without the interruption.
But the 44-year-old thinks it was right to resume play and ‘help football economically’ after the lockdown in Italy.
“It has been a physical and mental massacre,” Juric told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “We played with the health of the players and asked for inhuman efforts.
“No complaints though. It was fair to play and help clubs and people who work in football economically.”
Juric has helped Verona to ninth in Serie A and has been very pleased with his own players, giving them a perfect rating in 2019-20.
“I would give them a perfect 10, we did everything we could,” Juric added. “The week in which we faced Milan, Lazio and Juventus in early February, we picked up five points and no defeats.
“We played great football.”
But without the interruption, the Croatian thinks Verona would have played in Europe next season.
“I’m convinced of it, we had reached an excellent mental and physical level. We weren’t afraid of anything.”
Marash Kumbulla has been linked with a move away and Juric thinks he’s ready for a top club.
“He’s ready, yes. Although, I would like him to stay here for another year. He’s a serious person.”
Verona end their season with a trip to Genoa on Sunday and can still climb to eight with a win, if Sassuolo lose against Udinese at home.