“We are looking for confirmation.” The crossing against Sassuolo comes at the right time to reveal the consistency of a Toro who suffered two defeats in the first two days, then unlocked with the 4-0 printed at Salernitana thanks also to the transfer effect that on the last day useful gave Juric three new signings, two of which were already on the pitch last Sunday (Zima from the start and Praet during the match). Tomorrow evening at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia, however, the test will be of much greater depth against a team that despite the change of bench – from De Zerbi to Dionisi – already seems to be playing by heart. The coach del Toro warns his parents of the danger.
«Against Salernitana we wanted to dominate and we dominated, but tomorrow it will be a different match – Juric’s analysis -, Sassuolo are tough, a consolidated reality that has been playing great football for years. I really want to see a good match against a strong team, it is a good test for us who, on the other hand, are still in a phase of discovery ».
The Bull is legitimately in a hurry to put behind him the last two years that have burned a path that had brought him back to Europe. Juric compared to its predecessors will also be able to count on a strengthening campaign in line with his wishes. But he never won against Sassuolo. «I don’t think that the problems of the past were psychological – he says -, but that there was a quality deficit. It was not a squad that could go to the Champions League and the results arrived were in line with the strength of the team. I am calm, the group gave me great availability from the beginning: they told me it was not the best, instead it is quite the opposite and this gives me satisfaction ».
Tomorrow is a crash test, especially for the defense and the goalkeeper who will face Berardi, Raspadori and Scamacca. The three strikers of the national team were decisive in these first days to raise the level of danger for Sassuolo, third for shots in Serie A. “The goal is to make them finish less – again the Croatian coach – I hope Milinkovic-Savic doesn’t has a great job, however we hope he does well. Attacking midfielders? There are four of them for two places, I’ll decide tomorrow: the only one who prefers to start on the left is Pjaca, but Brekalo, Praet and Linetty are interchangeable ». Juric has the other doubt in defense, where Buongiorno undermines Rodriguez who suffered particularly Berardi in the national team. Izzo, on the other hand, was unable to dispose of the blow to the foot.
If the Taurus is still looking for his true face, a first Juric goal has already reached him: to bring some people back to the stadium. The numbers are still low, at least the 3,500 spectators of the first day have almost tripled. «The choirs came too early for me – the coach shuns -, but if things go well we have seen that there is emotional participation on the part of the fans. My football is based on the characteristics they identify with, such as aggression ».
The journey for the man from Split has just begun, who knows that after marrying the Taurus he cannot do the same with a city that has already entered his heart. «Turin is wonderful – Juric’s homage -, it amazed me, there are many neighborhoods that I like, starting with San Salvario which is similar to my way of being. I’m happy for my daughter who is enrolled in classical high school and will be able to grow up in an open environment ».