Maurizio Sarri has asserted that Empoli will face Juventus with ‘great courage’ on Saturday evening and play on the ‘slight chance of a result’.
Maurizio Sarri has asserted that Empoli will face Juventus with ‘great courage’ on Saturday evening and play on the ‘slight chance of a result’.
The Tuscan outfit have been praised for their attacking approach since returning to Serie A, but a run of two consecutive defeats has left them hovering dangerously above the relegation places.
In spite of this, their Coach is refusing to change his philosophy and has urged his players to ‘take risks’ against the champions.
“We expect a tough game, but at the same time, we’re obliged to earn points,” Sarri told his pre-match Press conference.
“We must go on to the pitch with great courage, even if it means taking risks, trying to trouble them.
“We face a team who also come from a defeat and will want to react. Also, having looked at the statistics, Juventus haven’t lost two consecutive games for a long time [not in Serie A since March 2011].
“In their last match, Juventus created a lot and risked almost nothing at the other end, only losing to one chance at the end.
“Allegri? He has great ability to manage a group and has shown that this year after tiptoeing into a new environment and making small but constant improvements over time.
“How to beat them? If there was a magic formula, everyone would use it. We will play against a strong team, and for our part we will try not to collapse.
“If it happens, it means that your opponents are so good that they force you to change [your approach].”
Sarri then explained how the Empoli players would not need any motivation for the visit of the Bianconeri and denied claims that his side were lacking the mental and physical toughness needed to compete in the top flight.
“Tomorrow, I don’t think there’ll be any need to fire the boys up – playing in a packed stadium and against great players,” he added.
“Therefore, I do not think that [Juventus] can be faced with any particular motivations, but rather we don’t want to be beaten. There is a small possibility of a result and we have to play on that.
“This team has three years’ worth of history, so I don’t think there’s a mental problem – the defeat against Cagliari was followed by another, and it’s a wound that must be healed, perhaps even with a little bit of luck.
“Speaking of us, I say that the team are doing well, but during the match, we may be paying for our [lack of] fitness.
“In the last match, unlike the one before, I didn’t see a passive team or one that collapsed. Rather, we reacted to the difficulties [of falling behind], though perhaps in a confusing way.
“I consider the first 55 minutes of Sassuolo as us playing at a high level, and it gives us great hope for the future – I can’t help but think that if we hurt them for a few minutes, it would’ve changed everything.”
On the topic of individuals, Sarri noted: “Laurini is still not in great condition and isn’t feeling too great. We will see tomorrow if he can play, knowing that he doesn’t have 90 minutes in his legs.
“Zielinski has great quality, but he still needs to learn to integrate better into our team.”