Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri admits games after the break are ‘always difficult’ and insists Alvaro Morata’ loves Juventus.’
The Bianconeri host Napoli at the Allianz Stadium at 19.45 UK time.
There were fears the game would have been postponed due to a COVID outbreak in the Partenopei team, but Luciano Spalletti’s side were given the green light to travel to Turin as planned.
“It was a new situation for me, we prepared for this important game, we must be ready,” Allegri told DAZN.
“The games after the break are always complicated, this one even more so we need to be focused.”
Alvaro Morata had agreed to join Barcelona on an 18-month loan deal, but Allegri blocked his move to the Nou Camp as the Old Lady don’t have the budget to sign a valuable replacement.
Morata’s loan in Turin ends in June and the Bianconeri are unlikely to make his move permanent from Atletico Madrid for €35m.
The coach had confirmed yesterday that the striker would not leave Turin in January.
“Morata is calm, he trained well and he loves Juventus,” he added in his interview with DAZN.
“The club and I spoke to him and he calmed down.”
Why Napoli trio play against Juventus despite quarantine order
Piotr Zielinski, Amir Rrahmani and Stanislav Lobotka feature in Napoli’s starting XI for the game against Juventus despite receiving a quarantine order, but Allegri refused to comment on his opponents’ decision.
“I don’t have the knowledge to comment on this,” he said.
“I am only concerned because we need to be focused in these situations, we must be ready because a win would help us climb the table.”