Allegri: There is no tension, the goal is to improve

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri was irate at the final whistle over the weekend against AC Milan, and was asked about reaction in the pre-match press conference ahead of the midweek game against Spezia.

“Talking about the past doesn’t make sense. It’s been seven years, and two since I last was at Juventus. This is a different team from the one I had.

“I’m human too and I have outbursts too. Since they have been playing two years in a row, without interruptions, those who go on the bench must be decisive in their approach.

“We can’t think of playing in 10, it’s always the case: before we had 14, now it’s 16. I demand respect from those who start and those on the bench and vice versa.

“It’s a sense of respect and responsibility.”

Allegri is going to be rotating his squad again with Federico Chiesa and Matthijs de Ligt both starting and Giorgio Chiellini staying back in Turin.

“Tomorrow, there will be some changes. Some players have played many games; Giorgio Chiellini is developing a fever.”

Talking about Wednesday’s opponent, Allegri knows that the fear factor teams have had of Juventus has well and truly gone.

“Spezia are a team that plays without worries and playing in their stadium is never easy. We must play at par mentally and physically, to bring out the technical qualities. In the second halves, we make mistakes, even when there’s not much pressure.”

The coach previously accepted he made mistakes with his attacking substitutions against the Rossoneri, but demanded better from his squad players.

“Tomorrow, we have to win, there’s nothing more to say. Those who start on the bench must be decisive when they enter, as an approach. Now, there are 16 players, not 14, I demand responsibility.

“I watched back the game on Sunday, we missed too many free balls. In football, there are occasions, and you pay for it, you might even risk losing. It takes clarity.”

On what his side needs to get back on track -

“Victories help. We are a team with many good players, some with more experience, others with less. But we are not a ‘young’ team. Experience is one thing, age is another.

“There’s no tension within the group. We all work together to do things well. We made a mistake on Milan’s goal.

“The inclusion of Manuel Locatelli is going well, he must find the mental and physical balance to play many games in a row.

“The goal is to help players improve, even the most experienced do it. I speak to all the players to help them grow, we all want to achieve important goals together, on the pitch and on a personal level.”

Two more injured players will be returning to the squad after the next international break in early October.

“Arthur’s recovery is going well, after the break he will be back with us.

“Kaio Jorge should also return after the international break.”