Allegri comments on Morata, Dybala, Vlahovic and Rabiot criticism

Juventus struggled against Fiorentina last season, losing comprehensively at home before drawing away and will be looking to right that record tomorrow. It's a rare game where the Bianconeri take on Viola with Juve actually behind their bitter rivals in the table, but that is exactly how this season has gone so far.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference today, Allegri commended the Viola while bemoaning his own side’s defensive laxity.

“Fiorentina are doing really well, they play good football, they are aggressive and they have a great coach.

“Almost all players are available except Moise Kean and Mattia De Sciglio. Juventus are an exceptional team, but we must improve in many circumstances.

“We should not concede goals even when we score four. I feel that we are still too soft defensively, while we’ve improved in the opponents’ half. Balance is needed.”

Juventus qualified for the Round of 16 in the Champions League midweek with two games to spare.

“We reached the first target of the season by qualifying for the last 16, but we are behind in the Champions League. We need to keep our mouths shut and work hard.

“We can play with offensive players, but they need to help defensively. To get consistent results in Serie A, you must work on both phases. Now, we must forget about the Champions League and focus on the next game, this must be the normality.

“A win doesn’t change our season, we need to take a step forward mentally. We need a different attitude when we take the lead. We turn the light off after we score and we give the feeling that the game is over.

“This way, we become vulnerable and we must raise the attention in that moments.”

Juve are among a handful of clubs who are keenly watching Fiorentina’s star striker Dusan Vlahovic.

“You can watch players in action, but it’s hard to judge them if you don’t see them train. Vlahovic is a strong player, you can see it from his goals. However, he is a Fiorentina player and we have great defenders, so I am calm.”

Alvaro Morata has come in for criticism after missing a number of relatively easy chances before finally scoring midweek.

“He played a good game against Zenit and he finally found the net. It was easier for him because he didn’t play with his back to the goal, now he can keep scoring for two or three months.”

Midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who Allegri has been using on the left side of a 4-4-2 formation, came in for some withering criticism however.

“It’s useless to talk about potential, Rabiot must do more, it’s very simple.”

Paulo Dybala sparkled in that game against Zenit, scoring a brace and laying on an assist as well.

“He is an important player, he is more mature and now he is improving because he has the right attitude in training. It must always be this way, we train as we play and we play as we train.”

Fellow Argentine Matias Soule who is with Juve’s Under-23 side has also received a call-up but Allegri called for caution with the 18-year-old right winger.

“He is a good player, but we can’t put too much pressure on him. Otherwise, we make the same mistake that we do with other young players.

“They become Ballon d’Or material after three games. I will repeat it forever: a player reaches his maturity at 25-26, after playing many games.”