Max Allegri has discussed the importance of securing a top-four finish this season as Juventus aim for a return to Champions League football. The Bianconeri head coach spoke in a recent press conference ahead of their clash with Lecce on Tuesday.
Juve had made a solid start to the season and were unbeaten after their first four matches. However, they suffered a 4-2 loss away to Sassuolo on Saturday, with Federico Gatti scoring a peculiar own-goal. Allegri discussed the inclusion of Wojciech Szczęsny and Gatti for the Lecce match, whether his team lack leaders and what he expects from the Giallorossi:
On whether Szczęsny and Gatti will play: “Gatti has 26 games for Juventus and must remain calm and calm. Szczęsny is the starting goalkeeper and will play tomorrow. We have a little problem with Kean: he has a little tibia problem that has flared up again. We will evaluate him today, the others are all fine. Gatti? I have not decided yet.”
On if Juve lack leaders: “We have Danilo, there is Szczesny and then Alex Sandro even though he is injured. Also Rugani who has grown a lot. We have lost in experience compared to last year, but we have grown in speed and light-heartedness.”
“At Juventus there is great pressure and a great sense of responsibility. The boys must remain calm, choices have been made for the present and future of society.”
On Lecce: “It’s a solid team. D’Aversa is an excellent coach. Lecce has a very good sporting director like Corvino who manages to create excellent teams. The championship is what I’ve always said with Napoli, Inter and Milan being the teams above the others. Inter is proving that they deserve first place in the standings and we must be good at fighting for the top four places, it would be an important result without setting limits. When a cycle reopens, playing the Champions League is always very important, getting into the top four is crucial from every point of view.”
