TORINO. Massimiliano Allegri, tomorrow Juve will play in Empoli in the league and on Wednesday in Florence in the Italian Cup. How do you prepare the “Tuscan countryside” with 8 absent players?
«Eh, let’s see who is still standing … One thing, however, we know: we have to win at Empoli and play a tough game, on a mental level we need to recharge our energies».
Have you seen Juve-Empoli in these days? What mistakes will his team not have to make?
«We played well for 20 minutes, then got that goal that disunited us. In the second half we didn’t overturn the game, but Empoli has 3 attacking players who do well: they are more carefree, while we have to win ».
Who should rest in midfield?
«I have to evaluate, even in defense where Bonucci was not expected on the pitch on Tuesday evening. We are sorry to lose McKennie because he was in a good moment and had different characteristics from the others, just as I am very sorry for Kaio Jorge for this very bad injury, we are waiting for him ».
How is Bernardeschi doing?
“We see him next week, Dybala instead maybe he could be available with Fiorentina … we see Rugani and Chiellini will certainly not be available, as well as Alex Sandro”.
Will Vlahovic be a starter in Empoli?
“There could be room for Kean: one of Vlahovic and Morata will rest.”
You have always been very good at making the tables: how many points do you need for 4th place, considering the extended race for the Champions League?
«I’m not saying the odds because we are fighting for 4th place. I can say that for the Scudetto: the winner is whoever reaches 85. I say it for the three of the Ave Maria who are in front, also because we cannot reach 85 ».
March is the decisive month: are you always optimistic to take home a trophy or are you starting to fear a season with zero titles?
«We see it at the end, but in the meantime we are there to fight for all the titles … We have a nice and fun semi-final in the Italian Cup, then there is the Champions League and at the moment the season is traveling well. The important thing is to work in a certain way, now we are playing better games and we need to improve in certain situations, such as in management. We need to play better in ball possession, with Villarreal there were good management of ball possession and hasty in making plays ».
Why does his Juve score little?
«To know … we made a mistake in some of the last passes in the Champions League, with more clarity we could have scored more. When you take a goal, then reopen the game and qualification. Locatelli, McKennie and Morata: we had the situations, there we need to be more lucid and we need to improve. But the team did a good performance ».
Vlahovic how do you get him more involved?
«There are matches in which you touch more balls and others less, but the important thing is that you score. And he is doing well ».
Is Kean playing his future in these games?
“Tomorrow he will have to play a good game, he will have the opportunities to score”.