Juventus Coach Max Allegri categorically denies that his team is tired ahead of the Cagliari game, but admits he's out of options defensively.
The Bianconeri are up against Zdenek Zeman's Cagliari as they come to the end of a busy run of fixtures, culminating in the Supercoppa Italiana against Napoli next week before the winter break.
Whilst the team failed to win three points against Sampdoria last Sunday and their strikers have not scored in the last three games, Allegri has today dismissed claims that they are suffering from fatigue.
Juventus Coach Max Allegri categorically denies that his team is tired ahead of the Cagliari game, but admits he's out of options defensively.
The Bianconeri are up against Zdenek Zeman's Cagliari as they come to the end of a busy run of fixtures, culminating in the Supercoppa Italiana against Napoli next week before the winter break.
Whilst the team failed to win three points against Sampdoria last Sunday and their strikers have not scored in the last three games, Allegri has today dismissed claims that they are suffering from fatigue.
“It's absolutely not true that the team is tired at the moment,” said the tactician in today's Press conference.
“On Sunday we played one of our best games from a physical point of view.
“I think we made some technical mistakes and were guilty of too much urgency after the break, especially in the last 20 minutes.
“This made it look as though the team was tired.
“But this is absolutely not the case, the team is physically in a very good condition, especially when you consider that last Sunday's game was the best physical performance in the whole first half of the season.
“It was one of our best games, second only to the match against Olympiacos.
“Cagliari always play open games and look to score. It's certainly going to make for a good match.
“As far as a turnover is concerned, I have two central defenders right now, so they'll be the ones who play – [Angelo] Ogbonna and [Giorgio] Chiellini.
“In the midfield I have other alternatives, five or six for four positions, likewise up-front.
“My only problem is at the back, with [Martin] Caceres still ruled out and hopefully only back in time for [the Supercup in] Doha.
“[Leonardo] Bonucci is suspended, too, [Andrea] Barzagli is recovering from his injury, [Kwadwo] Asamoah had an operation and will be away for a good while, no less than Romulo.
“In the midfield and the attack everyone's doing fine. [Luca] Marrone should return to training next week, but he won't play until after Christmas.”
Allegri said he has special expectations from one of his players in particular.
“I'll be expecting more from [Arturo] Vidal as the season develops. He's developing physically.
“Having changed systems I am of course asking my midfielders to do different things, to add something to what they already did, and from this point of view Vidal is improving.
“He'll find his way to a goal soon. Last Sunday he already two chances, for an assist and for a goal, so he's really come a long way in terms of running into spaces.”
Cagliari Coach Zdenek Zeman is one of the most convinced proponents of the 4-3-3 in Italy, but Allegri claims his 'maestro' was another advocate of that formation, Giovanni Galeone.
“I have a relationship of affection with Galeone. I've been tied to him for 20 years now.
“I say this with pleasure and with honour, because he is a splendid person.
“I worked with him for seven or eight years and the three months in which I was his assistant in Udine were fundamental for my development as a Coach.
“I've never worked with Zeman, but he's still one of the best proponents of offensive football in Italy.”
Allegri also spent some words on Juve’s next opponents in the Champions League.
“Borussia Dortmund are a team that, in spite of having had trouble in this first half of the League, managed to win a few games in the Champions League.
“They are emerging from three sensational years, in which they reached the final of the Champions League, claimed two German titles and did great things in their own League.
“It's going to be a fascinating match. We are going up against one of the great teams of Europe.”
Allegri was asked for an opinion about the two-match ban for Roma Coach Rudi Garcia, who has protested the decision as an attack against his honour. But the Juventus Coach decided not to make any comments.
“As far as what happens to other people, I can't give an answer and I shouldn't give an answer.”