Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has seemingly distanced his side from the Scudetto race because other rival teams have ‘better equipped’ squads.
It was a peculiar season for the Bianconeri in 2022-23. In January of this year, they were deducted 15 points as punishment for capital gain violations but the decision, subjected to appeal, was reversed on 20 April 2023.
Then, on 22 May 2023 Juve were deducted 10 points as punishment and that meant they missed out on the Champions League. In July, Juve were excluded from participating in the Europa Conference League due to a violation of UEFA’s financial regulations.
The lack of European football means that large sections of the media and the bookmakers believe that the Turin-based club could be among the Scudetto contenders this season.
Allegri spoke to DAZN after Juve’s win against Empoli yesterday and confessed that still being close to Milan, Inter and Napoli in the league table is something he considers to be a success.
“Football is strange and the others play a match every three days, despite having big squads. We are a young team with less experience, so we have to consider the mistakes that are made,” he said (via PianetaMilan).
“We work on those and we need to be calm, the important thing is to have a solid team on the pitch, we need to grow in terms of managing the match. Defensive solidity allows you to be better in attack, things are connected.
“The boys are eager, there is enthusiasm and we run. As Braida said, it helps. We must have the desire and enthusiasm to stay close to Milan, Inter and Naples and already tonight being with them is a satisfaction, as is being above the others.
“After Udine I heard great praise for Juventus but I was angry… Against Bologna, which Juve was rightly criticised, we let them have two or three shots on goal.”
Speaking to Sky, he added: “It’s normal that nobody likes being out of the Champions League. We can’t do anything else, last year we finished third, there’s only room to improve with a team that has grown, the age has dropped and patience is needed.
“There are better equipped teams, like Inter, Napoli and Milan who have to win the Scudetto, we have to get to the top four and stay close to them. We take one step at a time and we must not lose our characteristics of the team. Being two points from the top is already a satisfaction.”
This guy… Pff
Mind game specialist
Mind games. Juventus always wants to win the title.
He is right.
Juventus isn’t among the title favorites for the first time in a long time. Their squad and the style they play are not on the level of Milan, inter, and napoli.
Not playing in Europe might help them a little bit, but still, that’s a very flawed squad they have this season.
I think they only brought 1 new player this summer, Tim Weah, and their squad wasn’t that good last year either.
It’s their turn for a banter era.
allegri isnt only commenting a lot of bs as we have a younger team than them but from each time i see him i tend to think he looks more and more like reverend father kane from Poltergheist II. Kidding aside i wouldnt underestimate their team but lets trash them anyways when we get so far in the season.
We’re familiar with Allegri’s game, he can’t fool us, no underestimation on Juve this season.
Yup he always play this kind of game and honestly it’s getting old.
Mind games from Allegri.
Never underestimate Juve especially when they have Vlahovic and Chiesa on the front.