Allegri: Defeat hurts, a lesson for the future

Juventus lost two games in the Champions League group stage and saw a proud away streak come to an end, and yet managed to go through to the knockout rounds as winners of Group H for the draw to be held on Monday December 17th.

The Bianconeri’s 2-1 defeat away at Young Boys was rendered inconsequential after Manchester United also lost by the same scoreline at Valencia. Speaking after the game, manager Massimiliano Allegri seemed equal parts frustrated and relieved.

“We achieved our objective by winning the group, even on a night where everything seemed to go wrong.

“We missed so many opportunities and gifted a penalty, so at the end of the day it was only right that we lost.”

Second half substitute Paulo Dybala scored an excellent goal to halve the deficit, and then Juve saw his second goal to tie the game called off after Cristiano Ronaldo was deemed to have interfered with play from an offside position.

“It was offside. In any case, an equaliser wouldn’t have changed anything at that point. We started well and were not lazy in our approach, things just didn’t go our way, but we still won the group and I therefore thank the lads.”

He added -

“I haven’t seen the disallowed goal again, but the important thing is that we won the group, albeit thanks to Valencia beating Manchester United,” Dybala told Rai Sport and Sky Sport Italia.

”We wasted the chances to take the lead in the first half and that gave them confidence. Once we did get two, one was ruled out, but we did react.

”The defeat hurts, because we came here looking for the win, but it should serve as a lesson for the future.”

Allegri was questioned about his squad selection with the shortage of midfielders.

“I preferred to rest Miralem Pjanic ahead of the derby with Torino on Saturday.”

Of the eight teams in Pot 2 for the draw on Monday, Juve could be drawn against Ajax Amsterdam, Atlético Madrid, Liverpool, Olympique Lyonnais, Schalke or Tottenham Hotspur.

“It doesn’t matter who we face, as long as we reach February in good shape.”