Juventus coach Max Allegri says the club have to make sure they qualify for the 2024-25 edition of the Champions League. The Bianconeri finished third in Serie A last season, but were docked 10-points, moving them down to 7th. A plea agreement with UEFA resulted in them being excluded from this seasons Conference League, leaving them without European football for the upcoming campaign. Speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Allegri talked through the clubs pre-season tour in the US, why it’s imperative they qualify for Europe’s top competition and who will be the deputy captain in the squad:
In the U.S. you picked up two wins in two games against AC Milan and Real Madrid: do you return to Italy satisfied and with more certainty?
“For what we did in the United States, I must say that the team worked well. With Real Madrid it was good training against a strong team that has technique and physique, however we still have to improve in many things, first of all the athletic condition. Overall I am happy because we finished this American tour well.”
Speaking of athletic condition, against the Spaniards we saw more intensity than in the match against Milan: are you working hard on this aspect ahead of the new season?
“It’s true, we have grown in physical condition and it’s normal that this is the case because we are approaching the start of the championship, but also as awareness. We have started a path and we have to continue like this, this victory against Real Madrid gives us self-confidence, but at the same time we have to remain serene and calm because on August 20 the games that count will begin.”
Vlahovic entered in the final minutes and immediately scored the 3-1 goal: how important is it for the Serbian center-forward to have found the goal again and how is he experiencing this moment?
“I am very happy for him, before the game we decided together that he would come to the bench and play about fifteen minutes. Dusan was not very convinced, instead he was useful. Vlahovic came in well: apart from the goal he played well technically and stretched the team.”
Weah, who is the only real new signing for the moment, seems to have settled quickly into the Bianconeri mechanisms: is he the player you wanted to replace Cuadrado on the right flank?
“Timo, against Real Madrid, was a bit more tired, however, he is a guy who has good qualities and will be very useful to the team throughout the season. McKennie also had a good game, I am happy with his performance.”
Intensity, but also a high defence and building from the back: are these the aspects you are working on most to build Juventus 2023-24?
“These are things we have always done, this year however we have the advantage of playing one game a week and I think this team needs five days to be able to work, to improve especially in self-confidence and game building. However.”
Though…?
“We still need to understand that there are moments in the game when we need to slow down. Against Real Madrid, for example, we lost too many free balls and we can grow on that. But I see in the boys great attention and great desire to do well.”
Beyond the results and the two successes against AC Milan (on penalties) and Real Madrid, what grade would you give to the star-studded tour?
“Votes are not given, however, we did a good job and I am happy above all for the spirit the team had. We have a lot of young guys who are up to it, slowly they will grow, some will go to play elsewhere since we will only have one game a week: having a roster with too many players can be detrimental to those who will have less space. We have to find the right path for these guys who have important qualities. Unfortunately, we are out of the European cups even though we finished third last season and would have had the right to participate in the Champions League. We have to do without it and we have to be more focused on the league, to make sure we are in the Champions League again in 2024-25.”
With a game and week and without the commitment of the European cups, can we say that Juventus becomes, if not the favorite, at least a very creditable pretender for the Scudetto?
“Talking now about the Scudetto makes no sense, we have started a path, we need to work and no one here is backing down. I am in my eighth year on the Bianconeri bench and since I have been here I have never said that we will not fight to win the Scudetto, also because at Juventus you cannot afford to do that. You have to start with ambitions to get the maximum, as it has always been in the history of this club. Then if we are good in March we will see, however, we will certainly have a long way to go.”
One last question ahead of the start of the championship: Danilo has inherited the captain’s armband from Bonucci, but who will be his deputy this season?
“Alex Sandro and Rabiot. When the former will not play it will be the latter’s turn, because Adrien is right to move up in the hierarchies.”
