Pirlo: Juve regret not taking advantage of opportunities

Juventus are back in action on Saturday, this time with a trip to Parma. The Bianconeri are continuing to receive criticism for their inability to finish off games this season, and while they are still unbeaten in Serie A they’ve also drawn six times in a dozen games.

Speaking before the game, coach Andrea Pirlo commended tomorrow’s opponents.

“Parma are doing well. Since they changed shape, they have been achieving positive and important results like in Genoa and Milan.

“They’re a team that are recovering, have a new coach and you must be careful, also because you play after three days and you will need to regain some physical and mental strength.

“[I expect] a classic game where they will try to defend themselves and counter. They have very fast players in the transitions, like Gervinho and [Yann] Karamoh.

“You have to be very careful when you are in possession of the ball and then develop the game well.”

Pirlo is very familiar with Parma coach Fabio Liverani and is aware that his teams play much like he did during his playing career.

“I know him well as a player. He was great technically and mentally, he thought before he received the ball.

“As a coach, he’s putting more or less the same ideas into the team. He did well at Lecce and is showing it even now, in a new club.

“But he needs time too.”

In the latest episode of Juve failing to seal a win despite scoring first and then squandering multiple chances to extend the lead, they allowed Atalanta to come back to tie the game up in the second half for a 1-1 draw.

“We are a bit angry because we played a good match against a great team and there’s regret for not having taken the many opportunities created, and that we didn’t manage to take home the three points.”

Pirlo is not concerned that there is an issue with stamina in his side with the fixtures coming thick and fast now.

“We are physically well, and we proved it the other night against Atalanta. We played more or less at the same level and, in fact, at times we were even superior physically.

“Yes, I don’t worry about this aspect, but when you play every three days, you must recover quickly.”