Massimiliano Allegri insists Juventus didn’t stop playing after scoring against Fiorentina, despite having just 32% possession for the game. The Bianconeri took a very early lead through Fabio Miretti, but were content to sit back for much of the remainder of the match, putting in a herculean defensive display. Speaking with Sky Sport Italia, Allegri broke down the match, pointing to the heroics of players like Daniele Rugani, who helped maintain yet another clean sheet for the Bianconeri:
Juventus still not conceding goals?
“I’m happy for the win because it was five years since Juventus won in Florence and for what the boys did against a Fiorentina side that plays very well, in the first half we did well with two situations where we missed the last pass. Rugani? He’s been playing at Juventus for eight years and he knows what it means, today he’s playing as a veteran and he’s been greatly underestimated because defensively he’s one of the best, as well as being a great guy”.
Are you happier with -2 from Inter or +7 from Atalanta?
“I’m happier with the +7 over Atalanta because we have to keep a low profile, keep working to turn our limitations into strengths. On Saturday we will have Cagliari, which I had no doubt that Ranieri has put back on its feet by winning three games in a row, two in the league and one in the Italian Cup, it will be a difficult match because afterwards we will have the break and we must not ruin what we have done until now”.
Did you give up playing too early after the goal?
“We didn’t give up too early but against Fiorentina it was difficult because we were losing the ball too early. We had some difficulties and we have to improve in keeping the ball in the opponent’s half without rushing the play. In the second half we started well with Chiesa’s position then they raised their centre of gravity and Fiorentina did well. Do we like defending? It’s our DNA, last week we played 90 minutes in the opponent’s half of the field and the important thing is to be able to do both, now when we are in our own half of the field we defend right and also when we defend we have to be good at directing the game and in this we have improved but then we have to improve in other situations”.
Where can you get to, can you not think of doing more than fourth place?
“In front there is a team that has been built for years to win Scudetti, it is normal that they are in the lead. Milan and Napoli have started further ahead and we are a group of guys who play for each other, on this we must continue to work without getting excited because there are still many games to go and our goal is to return to the Champions League”.
First goal for Miretti?
“He is a player who is often criticised even when he performs well. Today he scored a beautiful goal because he was in the right place at the right time”.
Cambiaso in midfield tried out for Cagliari with Rabiot disqualified, do you not have many alternatives in attack?
“Chiesa and Kean did very well, then we needed two to take over up front and Milik and Vlahovic were very good. With Rabiot disqualified we will do something because we have so many youngsters.”
