Stefano Sturaro and Andrea Barzagli could start for Juventus when they face Palermo tomorrow, hints Coach Max Allegri.
Barzagli has been struggling with injury all season, making his first appearance this term in the win over Sassuolo on Monday, albeit from the bench.
Sturaro, meanwhile, was recalled from a loan spell at Genoa in January, but is yet to feature for the Bianconeri.
“Tomorrow could be the game for Barzagli,” Allegri revealed in his pre-match Press conference.
Stefano Sturaro and Andrea Barzagli could start for Juventus when they face Palermo tomorrow, hints Coach Max Allegri.
Barzagli has been struggling with injury all season, making his first appearance this term in the win over Sassuolo on Monday, albeit from the bench.
Sturaro, meanwhile, was recalled from a loan spell at Genoa in January, but is yet to feature for the Bianconeri.
“Tomorrow could be the game for Barzagli,” Allegri revealed in his pre-match Press conference.
“Just the fact that he’s come back, and has been able to savour the pitch, the stadium and the emotions of the game is important, so hopefully tomorrow will be the game.
“Barzagli is definitely better, so tomorrow he could face Palermo.
“That said, virtually nothing is decided until I see training today. The important thing is that they’re all in good condition, because Palermo certainly won’t be an easy game.
“In midfield I have four players: Sturaro, [Claudio] Marchisio, [Arturo] Vidal and [Roberto] Pereyra. I don’t have many.
“As for [Andrea] Pirlo, we’re monitoring him day-by-day, and we hope we’ll have him available for Dortmund, because he’d be important to have back.
“Sturaro can fill Marchisio’s role in front of the defence, or can play where Pogba does. He definitely has different characteristics, but he’s a lad who has integrated well, is training well and could be ready to play tomorrow.
“If a Juventus player cannot play a game in any one of Serie A, the Champions League or the Coppa Italia, then he cannot remain a Juventus player.
“All the players I have, are capable of playing any game. Then I make choices, one plays or the other plays, but all of them can help us with their qualities.”
Allegri was then asked whether the glut of goals in this week’s Champions League second legs made him nervous ahead of Juve’s, given a 0-0 draw would send the Old Lady through.
“Scared? Why would I have to be scared?” the former Milan Coach responded.
“What, because of all those goals? If our game against Dortmund has a lot of goals, maybe it will be 3-2, or with some number of goals that would see us reach the Quarter Finals.
“All games are not the same. It’s normal for there to be more goals in Europe, because the level is higher technically, and I think to reach the Last 8, with two big teams like Juventus and Borussia, we must be very good.
“But like I’ve said, we’ll think about that after the Palermo game.”
Finally, Allegri defended midfielders Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba, who have been criticised for their form in some quarters.
“I’ve been saying the same things for almost a year, I must be getting boring.
“Vidal should not play with anxiety, you can’t play football with anxiety.
“In football you have to play as calmly as possible, be focused and think about what you have to do, while trying to make as few mistakes as possible, because that gives you more chance of winning a game.
“Also, Vidal is better physically at the moment, as has been shown in his recent matches. The problem is that Vidal is only judged by goals, when he’s a midfielder, who up until now has six or seven goals and could get into double figures.
“He should be evaluated for his performances, as should Pogba. With Pogba it’s as if when he doesn’t score he doesn’t play well.
“Pogba’s two best matches this year have been Lazio in Rome, and at gome to Dortmund, because he played well technically and tactically.
“For a midfielder you can score goals or not, but I think Pogba already has seven goals and Vidal has six, so the numbers are on their side.”