Juventus” data-scaytid=”1″>Juventus boss Antonio Conte has given the 3-5-1-1 system the thumbs up after the Old Lady’s win at Lazio” data-scaytid=”3″>Lazio on Monday.
Juventus boss Antonio Conte has given the 3-5-1-1 system the thumbs up after the Old Lady’s win at Lazio on Monday.
The 43-year-old opted to just play with one striker at the Olimpico in the shape of Mirko Vucinic, with midfielder Claudio Marchisio fielded just behind.
“It doesn’t matter how many forwards you play with, but how many players contribute in attack,” the Coach, who has primarily used 3-5-2 this term, stated.
“Marchisio was able to perform this role, helping out in defence and becoming an orthodox striker when he moved forward.
“He and Vucinic have a really good understanding. Marchisio was superlative, although I’m disappointed that he didn’t score.”
Conte added that the shift in formation also allowed him to use 20-year-old revelation Paul Pogba.
“I think that a Coach has to find a way, to invent something, in order for all of his best players to play,” he continued.
“The solution I opted for against Lazio allowed me to use a player who it would be criminal to leave out at this moment in time and that is Pogba.”
Juve won the game 2-0 thanks to a brace from Arturo Vidal. They now have an 11-point lead in the standings with just six games left.
“We’ve taken another forward step and we’re drawing even closer to our target of the Scudetto, but we still need seven points to be mathematically certain,” Conte noted.
“So we won’t talk about it until it’s in the bag, instead we’ll continue to push on.
“Lazio? We came up against a very strong team, sometimes a rebound is enough to concede a goal and risk ruining an important position.
“Those who understand football know that when you have games like these in your grasp, you have to really hold on to them.”
Juventus began the season with the hope of winning the Scudetto and the Champions League, but their European Cup run ended in the quarter-finals last week.
“People shouldn’t be disappointed or despondent. We reached the last eight in Europe and that’s an extraordinary achievement.
“We’ve remained at the top of the League from last year and if a team like ours gets depressed after going out against Bayern Munich, then I really don’t understand anything about football.”