Walter Mazzarri does not expect Juventus to underestimate Torino in the Derby della Mole but has urged his side to ‘dream’ on Friday.
Mazzarri’s Torino sit just three points outside Serie A’s top four, meaning victory over their city rivals – who have nothing to play for after winning the Scudetto – could lift them into a Champions League place.
"The derby is the derby,” he said at a Press conference.
Walter Mazzarri does not expect Juventus to underestimate Torino in the Derby della Mole but has urged his side to ‘dream’ on Friday.
Mazzarri’s Torino sit just three points outside Serie A’s top four, meaning victory over their city rivals – who have nothing to play for after winning the Scudetto – could lift them into a Champions League place.
"The derby is the derby,” he said at a Press conference.
“We’re not a team who will be underestimated by Juventus. They’re a very strong team and they’ll play to the maximum.
“Chiellini is a crucial player for them. If he played against Ajax, things might have gone differently.
“Tomorrow he’ll be there and this is proof that they’ll play to the maximum. We had some big absences in the second half of the season.
“That allowed other players to find consistency and more space in the team. There’s been an increase in the value of the squad, and that stopped us from feeling the weight of our absences.
“Iago Falque suffered another a knee problem in our last training session. We’re barebones at the back.
“If we were to play with a three, we could play Bremer or De Silvestri, or we could play with a four. I’ll decide after weighing everything up.
“Tomorrow could be the last real step of our growth. Winning at their place would be truly great.
“Belotti is a driving force. I hope he helps the rest of the team have a great game.”
The Coach is coming to the end of his first full season in charge, so what does he make of it?
“I’d rather talk about it at the end of the season. Now I just want to focus on tomorrow’s single game.
“Tomorrow is a crucial game. The result would’ve already seemed written any other time.
“Now, instead, we can dream. This alone is a big step forward.”
Torino squad to face Juve: Ichazo, Rosati, Sirigu; Aina, Ansaldi, Bremer, De Silvestri, Izzo, Nkoulou, Singo; Baselli, Berenguer, Lukic, Meite, Rincon; Belotti, Damascan, Millico, Zaza