Andrea Pirlo’s comments in today’s press conference about the way Juventus will evaluate his future were remarkably similar to ones Maurizio Sarri made last year.
The Bianconeri go into the last round of the Serie A season knowing even a win away to Bologna might not be enough for a top four finish.
Pirlo won the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana, so insisted Champions League qualification would not be crucial for his future.
Andrea Pirlo’s comments in today’s press conference about the way Juventus will evaluate his future were remarkably similar to ones Maurizio Sarri made last year.
The Bianconeri go into the last round of the Serie A season knowing even a win away to Bologna might not be enough for a top four finish.
Pirlo won the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana, so insisted Champions League qualification would not be crucial for his future.
“I don’t think the club will make a decision based solely on what happens tomorrow. I believe they’ll look over the whole season and then make a decision. It’s up to them, we’ll see what happens," said the coach in today's press conference.
“I have always held my head up high and feel that I’ve done my job 100 per cent. I’ve always been clear with everyone and can have no complaints on that score.”
This raised a few eyebrows, because Pirlo’s comments were remarkably similar to ones made by his predecessor Sarri in August 2020.
He had just won the Scudetto, something Pirlo has not achieved, and was going into the Champions League Round of 16 clash with Olympique Lyonnais when asked if this would be his final game at Juventus.
“No, and I think this question is essentially calling our directors amateurish, which I don’t think they are. They will have made their evaluation based on the entire season as a whole, so if they’ve already decided to get a new coach, tomorrow won’t make any difference, nor will a victory,” replied Sarri.
“It’s an important match, but it’s also important to win the Scudetto and so we’ve had plenty of those already this season. It would be important to be part of Europe’s elite by reaching the Final Eight tournament in Portugal, so we care about it, but that makes it an important match, not anything else.”
It was his final game and Sarri was sacked after their Champions League exit, although President Andrea Agnelli made it clear the decision had indeed already been made.