The words of the Juventus coach on the eve of the match at the Via del Mare against Lecce: “We can ruin our good season with just one game; We need to stay focused.”
Juventus will fly to Lecce with a clear goal in mind: overtaking Inter at the top of the table. With the ‘Nerazzurri‘ busy in Saudi Arabia for the Italian Supercup, Allegri’s team has the chance to claim the lead, but they must defeat Lecce at the Via del Mare to achieve that.
ALLEGRI’S FULL PRESS CONFERENCE:
How is the team?
“We had a good training session and a good final dinner. Rabiot is absent due to calf fatigue, and I don’t want to risk him. Chiesa has a recurrence of a knee problem.”
Any concerns about Lecce?
“Playing there is always challenging and uncomfortable. They create and defend well, and they come from four consecutive positive results at home, so it won’t be easy.”
Kean’s status and potential exit:
“He is feeling better, and I am interested in his physical condition. Regarding whether he is leaving or not, the DS Giuntoli has already expressed himself, they handle these questions better.”
Do you believe in the Scudetto now?
“We shouldn’t talk about anything like that now. We must win in Lecce first, which is never easy. Our number one goal is not to concede goals away since we’ve always conceded in the last four away games. We seek points to reach the Champions League, which remains our objective.”
Vlahovic’s form and learning from past mistakes:
“Dusan has grown a lot on the field, especially in how he approaches matches. He is more calm and serene, surely a step toward complete maturity.”
Changing words if leading the league?
“It was just a joke using a childhood game metaphor. It was discussed for a week, and it entertained you, but it was just a joke. Our only thought and goal are to return to the Champions League.”
If Juventus get the Top of the table, are you guys ready to pull away?
“I don’t like talking about leading the table; at least let’s play the match first. Inter is doing important and extraordinary things this season, so they remain the favorites for the title. We want to accumulate all the points we can in order to reachthe Champions League.”
Yildiz starting again?
“In attack, there are three guys fighting for two positions. Milik is in great shape, and there will be important matches, but regardless of who plays, the difference is made by those coming off the bench because when they enter, they must provide significant help.”
What does Juventus lose without Rabiot?
“It loses something for sure; we don’t have him and Chiesa, but we have other players ready. Adrien has a calf problem that is always risky, but both he and Chiesa will be evaluated by the doctors.”
Advice for Mazzarri regarding Napoli’s off-field situation:
“Nothing; I’m not capable of giving advice to others.”
