Massimiliano Allegri

[Socrates 7962]

Allegri: ‘Pogba can do more’

Jan 14, 2015

Max Allegri praises Roberto Pereyra, admits it's ‘not easy’ to find space for Sebastian Giovinco at Juventus, and challenges Paul Pogba.

Ahead of their Coppa Italia game against Hellas Verona, the Bianconeri may be shuffling some of their usual starters.

Hinting at this in his pre-match Press conference, the Old Lady’s boss claims that his team has more than sufficient players to handle the season, whilst he is particularly positive about those who came in last summer.

“Our new signings have been good. [Roberto] Pereyra is the one who played the most and he did better than anyone. [Patrice] Evra had some trouble at first but now he is recovered,” Allegri commented to reporters.

“[Alvaro] Morata doesn't always play but even when he doesn't, he has great technical qualities that make him decisive.

“Against Napoli he executed a pass that wasn't easy and that allowed [Arturo] Vidal to score a great goal.

“He is a great player and he'll grow even more. He comes from Real Madrid and he went from being treated as a child there to being given responsibilities here. It's not easy when you start getting treated as an important player.

“[Kingsley] Coman is still a boy, but he played two games as a starter in Verona and in Florence and he's putting in some good performances. He has great potential and great quality.

“Romulo had a good game against Parma but then he had to stop.”

Reports continue to link Sebastian Giovinco with an exit.

“Of course, when I have Tevez doing such great things, and [Fernando] Llorente who's working so well, it's not easy to find space, as [sebastian] Giovinco knows quite well.

“Giovinco can not play as a trequartista if not for short segments. He is a striker, with great technical qualities.

“I treat players in my team as though they were going to stay until the end of the season. Out of five strikers, a few will always have to stay on the bench.”

The giornalaccio rosa dello Sport today speculate on a possible summer auction for Paul Pogba.

“It's normal that everybody should be going crazy for [Paul] Pogba. He has great quality and he can still improve. He does less than he could…”

Allegri was also prompted to cast an eye on the Serie A transfer market so far.

“Inter made two important moves on the mercato and they can aim for third place. Milan already had a good mercato campaign in the summer.

“Third place is open, all of the teams in the bracket between 26 and 31 points are fighting for the Champions League.”

[Socrates 7962]

Marotta praises Allegri

Jan 19, 2015

Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta has praised Coach Max Allegri, and outlines the club’s goals for the season.

Allegri replaced Antonio Conte on the Bianconeri bench this summer, and has since guided the Old Lady to the Champions League Last 16 and has established a five point lead at the top of Serie A.

“It was very hard,” Marotta recalled of Conte’s departure in an interview with Sky.

“We ended up with this mutual termination with Conte on July 15 when the season had practically started, so obviously there were enormous difficulties, especially if we remember the legacy of three Scudetti, meaning he wasn’t easy to replace.

“However, today Allegri has partially succeeded in the club’s aims, we’re the winter champions, in the next round of the Champions League and we hope and wish to be part of the final reckoning in May.

“He’s a man with great professionalism, and a calmness which has allowed him to overcome great difficulties, he’s a winning Coach like Conte.

“Allegri has led with tranquility this season, supported by the club and supported by a group of players who are winners both on and off the field.

“We’re winter champions but that’s a largely meaningless title. The important thing is to be top at the end of the season and get onto the winner’s podium in May.

“So, we take the title of winter champions, aware that we’ve shown in the first half of the season that we have a tight-knit squad and a very good Coach.”

[Socrates 7962]

VIDEO: Allegri V Pogba In Juventus Shot Challenge

Jan 29, 2015

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri took on star midfielder in a game of shooting practice.

Can Pogba beat his coach?

[Socrates 7962]

Massimiliano Allegri happy to have won over Juventus fans

Feb 13, 2015

Massimiliano Allegri says hard work and humbleness have helped him win over the Juventus fans who were in uproar when he was appointed as the club's new coach in the summer.

Allegri was not everybody's favourite choice when Antonio Conte dropped a bombshell just a week into preseason training by walking out on the Bianconeri to become Italy manager. Allegri's past at AC Milan already had him in Juve fans' bad books and the Turin-based club had a job on their hands convincing them they had made the right choice.

Allegri has done the rest with 16 wins and only one defeat in 22 Serie A games as well as reaching the last 16 of the Champions League and semifinals of the Coppa Italia.

It is now harder to find a dissenting Juve fan, although Allegri knew it was never going to be an easy ride to begin with.

"I think it was only normal that there was a bit of scepticism when I arrived because a coach who had just led them to three straight Scudettos had just left, and above all it came out of nowhere and they felt abandoned at the last minute," Allegri told ESPN Deportes.

"I think the secret is that I tiptoed my way in, trying to get to know all about the atmosphere at Juventus as quickly as possible, trying to adapt to the Juventus way and to be open to everybody from the beginning, and to work hard.

"We knew we had objectives to aim for -- winning the league, looking to go as far as possible in the Champions League without setting any limits, and then there is the Coppa Italia."

Juventus are on target in all three competitions, unlike Allegri's former club Milan, who may be quite envious when they look at their former coach's record since being sacked by them just over a year ago.

That dismissal proved to be the end of an era for the Milan, who were the last team to win Serie A before Juve's recent domination and who had qualified for the Champions League each year under Allegri.

Making it into Europe next season looks like it will be an uphill task for Allegri's former club, who are not representing Italy on the continent for the first time in 16 seasons this term. However, Allegri says what comes around goes around.

"Like in life, football is made of cycles," Allegri said. "At the end of a cycle, it's always hard to start over and change again, particularly when you have changes to make -- it's always hard to make the right choices.

"Milan for many years were the club who, with Juve, have always battled for the Scudetto and been at the top in Europe for many years, and they will be back there again soon. Because like at Juve, it's part of their DNA to be at the top of the game and winning things.

[Socrates 7962]

Allegri: It's strange to see Dortmund
near the bottom of the Bundesliga

The Juventus boss says he will not rotate his players despite a mounting
fixture list which includes a Champions League clash against Jurgen Klopp's side.

Feb 14, 2015

Massimiliano Allegri says it is "strange" to see Borussia Dortmund struggling in the Bundesliga and does not expect an easy encounter for Juventus in the Champions League this month.

Jurgen Klopp's men have been languishing in the German top flight but back-to-back wins have offered some reprieve, lifting them temporarily out of the bottom three.

Contrastingly, Juventus have looked dominant in Serie A once again this term and have opened up a seven-point gap ahead of second-placed Roma.

Despite the disparity in league form, Allegri suggests it will be an even match-up on February 24 as Juventus continue the hunt for a treble in 2014-15.

"Dortmund have some excellent players and it’s strange to see them at the bottom of the Bundesliga," he told reporters in a press conference ahead of Sunday's Serie A clash with Cesena.

"When we play against them, the Germans will have their best squad available, as will we. We've got the opportunity to qualify and put in two great performances.

"Our objective was to still be in the running for every competition in March. We’re still in Europe, top of Serie A and in the Coppa Italia semi-final. However, we must improve our style of football a great deal and are working on that."

Allegri also dismissed suggestions that he would be mixing up his line-up and says his players must not allow themselves to become complacent.

"There will not be squad rotation tomorrow, as we’ll use the best possible line-up to face Cesena," the ex-AC Milan coach added. "Then there are Atalanta and Dortmund. It is our duty to take Juventus forward in the Champions League.

"We have to get it into our heads that every weekend there’s one fewer round to go, so we have to make fewer and fewer mistakes.

"We could go into the head-to-head with Roma only four points in front of them. We also have to be wary in Cesena, as on a synthetic pitch the ball moves quickly."

[Socrates 7962]

Massimiliano Allegri to leave Serie A after Juventus

Feb 19, 2015

Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has said he would only consider managing the Italian national team or a foreign club once his reign in Turin is over.

Allegri, who was sacked by AC Milan in January 2014, replaced Antonio Conte as Juve boss in the summer and his side are currently seven points clear of Roma at the top of Serie A.

He said he hopes to remain in charge of Juve for as long as possible but the 47-year-old, who has previously expressed an interest in working in the Premier League, does not plan to coach another Serie A club.

"Juventus are the best run club in Italy by far," Allegri said in an interview with German publication Sport Bild. "It was the right decision for me because you always want to take the next step.

"After that you can only take over the national team, or move abroad, but for now I want to work in Turin as long as possible."

Juventus host Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League clash next week, and Allegri believes his side have a good chance to progress against Jurgen Klopp's men, who have endured a difficult season in the Bundesliga.

"There are four favourites in Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Bayern. The rest are at a different level, and the head and most of all luck will decide those fixtures," he said. "It's important that we don't concede against Dortmund at home. I'd prefer to draw 0-0."

He added: "We have all it takes to beat Dortmund. At least that's what I believe."

Juve's chances are likely to be boosted by the presence of France midfielder Paul Pogba.

"At the age of 21, he does things on the pitch that others never achieve in their entire career," he said. "When you can coach players who are on this level, it is a huge privilege for a coach."

[Socrates 7962]

Allegri: Juventus Can Beat Borussia Dortmund

Feb 19, 2015

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri is in confident mood ahead of their upcoming UEFA Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund, insisting that his side has what it takes to defeat the 2012-13 runners-up.

However, the 47-year-old warned Bianconeri fans that even if the first leg in Turin on February 23 were to end goalless, not conceding an away goal to Jurgen Klopp’s team is the most important thing to remember.

“We have what it takes to beat Borussia Dortmund in these matches ahead but also need a dose of good luck,” Allegri told Bild.

“On their day Borussia Dortmund can beat anyone and you have to be able to do well in the first leg, but then qualification will remain in the balance.

“It could even finish 0–0, but the important thing is not to concede a goal at the Juventus Stadium.

“In recent years Borussia Dortmund have enjoyed success and accumulated experience, from this point of view they are a step ahead of us.

“Klopp is a great coach, he is very successful.”

[Socrates 7962]

Massimiliano Allegri in the spotlight
as Juventus approach critical juncture

Feb 19, 2015

With the Champions League set to restart for Juventus, the number of games the team will play are bound to lead to fatigue and mental exhaustion. It is precisely for this reason, Massimiliano Allegri and co. feel they missed a trick when they failed to defeat Cesena to open a bigger gap at the top of the table.

It wasn't simply a case of luck or poor energy, the Seahorses perfectly exposed certain weaknesses within the Bianconeri team that has provoked anxiety. Two goals conceded from open play demonstrate a weak defence and one that falters when pitted against strength and height. Without Giorgio Chiellini, Juventus struggle to win aerial duels in defence.

Cesena are not only the best team when it comes to triumphing in aerial challenges but they boast the striker who has won more in the air than any other player in Serie A, Milan Djuric. It's for this reason that it was surprising that Allegri thought it best to rest Chiellini for this particular match -- the one game where his skills were the most important to seal victory. Were Cesena and their strengths truly studied? How well prepared were the Bianconeri for the challenge?

Such matters may appear trivial for a team that is so clearly in the lead on a domestic level, but against Borussia Dortmund Allegri must pay attention to every detail and field the perfect XI to keep a clean sheet. However, before the Old Lady can even think of their next European challenge, there is still Atalanta to overcome.

Stefano Colantuono's side may not possess the quality required to truly punish a side like Juventus but this is a side to be respected for their intelligent game plans and good execution. Not ones to play with fear, the Bergamo-based side know their strengths and are very aware of their weaknesses, finding ways to accumulate points despite their limitations.

Defence is the priority and Atalanta, sitting 16th in Serie A, is a side renowned for its organisation and the lack of space they offer the opponent. Lined up neatly in two banks of four, they defend deep and with determination, closing down the spaces quickly to frustrate forwards. While they are impressive tactically, there's little one can do to hinder technique. As such, when it comes to defending against quick thinking players who can dribble past them to dispatch a delicious through ball, Colantuono's outfit fail -- rather spectacularly at times.

Therefore, this is a game made for the likes of Carlos Tevez -- players with great imagination who understand how to keep possession and include others in their attacking play. Quick tempo attacking thrusts and the ability to create numerical superiority in the final third will surely pierce the Nerazzurri's back-line and in this Allegri has done well to evolve the side.

However, if Juventus are even slightly sloppy with their play, as they have been in the past, they will be punished. Colantuono often instructs his forwards to stay back and look for the ball with a view of initiating a quick counter-attack. Boasting two external midfielders with pace and trickery, this is a side that move up the field quickly and the Bianconeri must remain alert to the threat, even if Atalanta aren't the greatest at converting their opportunities. They will cross, they will play aggressively and they will try their luck and Juventus truly cannot afford anymore slip ups, especially as they need a confidence boosting win before they take on the mighty BVB next week.

While one always wants Pogba to start the matches especially considering how well the opponent defends, it will be a good idea for him to rest on Friday evening. For one thing, if he gets another yellow card then he will miss the Roma game but more importantly, he's showing signs of fatigue and requires a little down time in order to recover for the upcoming European duel.

It's thought Allegri will also opt to rest Andrea Pirlo looking to play a midfield featuring Roberto Pereyra and perhaps even Stefano Sturaro -- a player who will benefit from some game time.

An important part of the season has arrived, where the fixture has become a little more difficult and it's time to see who can survive and who will thrive. Rotation is a delicate balancing act that Antonio Conte managed to perfection last season and now is the time to see how well Juve's new coach will manage. It's imperative Allegri understands how to rotate, which men his team can live without, depending on the characteristics of the opposition, and which men will be looking for the chance to make an impact. This is where one can discover the true strength of a coach. Can he change the squad and still maintain the winning mentality or will this be a side that can no longer handle the pressure and physical demands required of champions?

[Socrates 7962]

‘Important not to concede’

Feb 19, 2015

Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri says not conceding is the most important thing when they face Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.

The Bianconeri take on the German side at Juventus in the first leg of a Champions League Last 16 tie.

“We can win, but Borussia Dortmund are very strong,” Allegri told German newspaper Bild.

“On their day they can beat anyone. The important thing is not to concede a goal at home, if we have to draw, then a 0-0 would serve us well.

“We’re in a position to go through, but these games are often decided mentally and by luck. In recent years Borussia have experienced great success, and their players have a lot of experience, even more than we do.

“On their day they can beat anyone, but we’ll try not to concede a goal in Turin, it’s important.”

[Socrates 7962]

Allegri defends Borussia comments

Feb 19, 2015

Massimiliano Allegri defends his comments that not conceding is the most important thing for Juventus against Borussia Dortmund.

The Bianconeri meet the German side on Tuesday in the Champions League, with the Coach telling German media that they are aiming not to concede first and foremost.

“I said that because it’s not a one-off game,” Allegri explained in his Press conference ahead of the League game with Atalanta.

“It’s a Last 16 tie, made up of two games and lasting 180 minutes. They key thing is not to concede a goal at home.

“If I could choose then I’d choose to win, but if we don’t win it’s better to get a 0-0 than 1-1. That was my answer, and that’s my answer today.

“There are two games, that must be handled in a balanced way, because our goal is to go through.

“If we draw 0-0 at home, and get a 1-1 over there then we’ve achieved that. I’ll say again, if you don’t concede at home you’ve taken one step forward.”

The former Milan Coach also dismissed suggestions that his side is too reliant on Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez.

“Tevez, despite being an international quality player, is a player with character. This is important for the team, and for the whole squad.

“It’s like all teams, just as Lionel Messi is vital for Barcelona, Cristiano Ronaldo for Real Madrid, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic for Paris Saint-Germain.

“It’s normal that when you have these great players they become key players for the team. That does not detract from the fact we should have won at Cesena, regardless of whether Tevez was on the pitch.

“As for Andrea, even when he’s marked he can play calmly. It’s would be wrong to change the way we play after one error where we conceded a goal [against Cesena, where Pirlo was caught in possession].

“Andrea is an added value for us, especially at a technical level. He gives the team great shape, and above all is a point of reference when the team is under pressure.

“It think it’s normal that we try to use the features that he has.”

[Socrates 7962]

Bonini: Conte Pays More Attention To Detail Than Allegri

Feb 22, 2015

Former Juventus player Massimo Bonini believes that the current Italy boss Antonio Conte provides more attention to detail than the current Bianconeri boss Massimiliano Allegri.

The Old Lady are on top of the Serie A table with 54 points, having established a comfortable seven point lead over second-placed Roma and are on their way to a fourth straight Scudetto.

“Compared to Conte, Allegri certainly has a different character,” said the 55-year-old to Tuttomercatoweb.com

“Conte probably transmits more attention to the simpler things, but again it also depends on the players.” he continued.

Bonini also hoped that the Old Lady’s 2-2 draw against Cesena last week is a one-off episode and does not become a habit.

“I hope it was just a blip,” he said.

“The championship is won by beating the small and medium teams below yourself.”

The former Bologna man was then asked whether Juventus should make a move for Paris Saint-Germain centre forward Edinson Cavani.

“I’d take him right away. He is a fantastic player not only because he scores, but also because he is a complete player. He’s also similar to [Carlos] Tevez.”

Bonini wore the Bianconeri jersey more than 190 times from 1981 to 1988, before moving to Bologna where he made more than 100 appearances.

[Socrates 7962]

Allegri: The Match Against Monaco Will Be Tough

Mar 20, 2015

Juventus have been drawn against French side Monaco in the quarter finals of the Champions League and head coach of the Bianconeri Massimiliano Allegri has stated that it will be a tough match for his side.

Both teams impressed in their previous European ties and the 47-year-old tactician will be hoping that his players will be encouraged by their convincing victory over Borussia Dortmund in their last Champions league match. [they won 5-1 on aggregate].

“This quarter-final match-up will be tough. Monaco are a very good side who showed their quality against Arsenal,” said Allegri when responding to the draw via his personal Twitter account.

Monaco were the serious underdogs when they took on English side Arsenal in the Round of 16 but managed to qualify thanks to the away goals rule after they drew 3-3 on aggregate.

In contrast to league leaders Juventus, Monaco find themselves fourth in the French championship and head coach Leonardo Jardim has already responded by stating that he believes his side will be the underdogs once again.

The first leg of the quarter-final will be played at the Juventus stadium on April 14.

[Socrates 7962]

Allegri: Clubs who avoided Juventus
in Champions League got lucky

The former Milan boss has dismissed notions that his side were fortunate to draw Monaco
in the Champions League, insisting their victory dismantling of Dortmund was a warning.

Mar 21, 2015

Juventus coach Massimliano Allegri has rejected claims his side were lucky to draw Monaco in the Champions League, suggesting the six other sides that avoided the Bianconeri were the fortunate ones.

The reigning Italian titleholders avoided potential clashes against Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich when they were paired with the Principality club on Friday, leaving them odds on to progress past the last eight for the first time since the 2002/03 season.

Juve blitzed Borussia Dortmund 5-1 on aggregate to secure their clash passage to the quarter-finals, which Allegri insists should be seen as a warning shot to the rest of Europe.

“I've read that Juventus apparently got a 'lucky' draw. But I think we can look at it a different way,” he told a press conference on Saturday.

“Considering the way we played at home against Borussia and up in Dortmund maybe it's the other teams who breathed a sigh of relief after avoiding us.”

The Old Lady have lost just one of their last 16 games in all competitions and Allegri went on to say that while his troops are high on confidence, they still have other things to work on.

“I think the players have much greater belief in themselves now. We've all done an amazing job - myself and everyone who works with me, the club - to keep us on an upwards curve. That has to be our aim,” he said.

“We have to kick on and try to iron out the things we're still not doing right.”

Allegri's side sit 14 points clear of second-placed Roma in Serie A and are unbeaten in 18 league games – their last coming against Sunday’s opponents, Genoa.

“We have a very difficult game against Genoa tomorrow, they're the only team that's beaten us in the league,” he said.

“They've picked up 20 points on the road and have got themselves back in the game from losing positions on seven occasions.

“It’s also going to be tough because they’ve had a week to prepare for it, while we basically only have today. So we'll have to come up with a big performance."

[Socrates 7962]

Lippi: 'I see myself in Allegri'

Mar 25, 2015

Marcello Lippi discusses his former team Juventus and its transition from Antonio Conte to Max Allegri, who he compares to himself.

The Bianconeri turned to the former Milan Coach after three consecutive Scudetti with Conte, and many were sceptical that that success could be repeated.

Lippi, however, is supportive of Allegri now and has reason to identify with him.

“I see myself in him,” he has said to today’s edition of the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport.

“He came to Juve more or less at the same age I did, he has the same concreteness I do, and he has the same drive to make the team more modern. We have points in common.

“You can see his intelligence - he came in on tip-toe, in an environment where a certain type of football was being played, without rocking the team's certainties.

“Then, with slightly different ideas, he gradually gave his own identity to the team.

“As for my comments about Allegri not having Conte's ‘competitive fury’, it was not a comparison in terms of quality. I just wanted to highlight certain differences in their approach to football.”

The Old Lady has been accused in recent years of coming short of her potential in the Champions League, but the Coach from Viareggio believes there are reasons to be optimistic this year.

“The draw can be helpful. Think of Conte's Juve, and imagine what could have happened if they hadn't drawn Bayern [Munich].

“Monaco should be treated with respect, certainly, but they are not Barcelona. And once you're in the semi-finals...

“I remember my Italy team. We were not the favourites, but one victory after the other we made it to the end, until our rivals looked at us with new eyes. Everything can happen.

“These are signs of rebirth in Italy. Juventus are developing well, and after having imposed themselves in Serie A they can gain a European dimension, pushing the whole movement forward.”

Lippi was also asked about one of the Old Lady's most coveted players, midfielder Paul Pogba.

“I think Pogba is potentially immense. He just has to avoid certain attitudes. He should cut down on some of his creative plays, or at least do them as close as possible to the adversary's goal.”

[Socrates 7962]

Massimiliano Allegri wins prestigious Bearzot award

Mar 26, 2015

When you take a team like Juventus to the quarterfinals of the Champions League and essentially wrap up a fourth straight Scudetto in the middle of March, you're going to get some recognition for it.

Turns out, that is exactly what is happening for Max Allegri.

After being littered with praise in the days following Juve's win over Borussia Dortmund in Germany, Allegri officially has some hardware to put up on his mantel. Juventus' first-year manager has been honored with the Enzo Bearzot award, given to the coach that shows "ability to combine results with good football."

Seeing what Allegri has done since the day he has taken over for Antonio Conte over the summer, I'd say he's done that with relative frequency.

The official press statement, courtesy of Juventus' website:

Massimiliano Allegri has been awarded the prestigious Enzo Bearzot recognition, the fifth edition of a prize named in honour of Italy's 1982 World Cup winning coach.

Handed out by the Italian Christian Workers' Association, under the patronage of FIGC, the achievement sees Allegri follow in the footsteps of last year's winner Carlo Ancelotti.

In revealing their reasons for the choice, the panel said: "Just like the great Enzo Bearzot, Massimiliano Allegri has always placed himself a step behind his players, giving them maximum responsibility but guiding them, as well as with tactical knowledge, with balance, resolve and tranquility. It's a method of working that appears to have become the trademark of one of the best Italian coaches."

Allegri, of course, came into a fantastic situation compared to the one he left after being fired by Milan earlier in the 2014 calendar year. Sure, things were more than a little uncertain because of who just left, but the foundation was there for even more success in the upcoming season.

I said before the year that Juventus' talent is enough to overcome any shortcomings Allegri has as a manager. But he's proven me and a lot of other people wrong. He's done a great job -- and that's not just because he's taken Juve into the Champions League quarterfinals. He's shown great tactical flexibility going between his preferred 4-3-1-2 formation and Conte's 3-5-2 based on what players are available to him on a game-by-game basis. And he's just done well to continue the progress Conte made in his three years in charge rather than seeing Juve take a step back despite clearly being the far and away No. 1 team in Italy this season.

So, good on you, Max Allegri. Well earned. Keep up the good work.

[Socrates 7962]

Allegri set for Juventus renewal

Mar 31, 2015

Massimiliano Allegri and Claudio Marchisio are both reportedly set for new contracts at Juventus when the season ends.

The Old Lady are 14 points clear at the top of Serie A, and are still competing in both the Champions League and Coppa Italia.

The ownership of the Turin giants has clearly been impressed by this campaign, with SportMediaset reporting that Allegri will be handed a one year contract extension.

The former Milan boss’s current deal expires in June of 2016, and the news outlet reports that he will now stay until the end of the following season.

Marchisio, meanwhile, will be tied to the club until 2019, effectively ensuring that he’ll end his career in Bianconero.

The 29-year-old is a product of the Juventus youth system, and has made almost 300 appearances for the club since making his debut in 2006.

[Socrates 7962]

Allegri: 'My greatest fear at Juventus...'

Apr 1, 2015

Max Allegri reveals what his 'greatest fear' was when joining Juventus, and discusses the stadium and tactics.

The Bianconeri boss took part in a Q&A session with the supporters, and much of the interview was focused on his experience when joining the club.

“When I was first announced as Juventus Coach, I felt very happy, because I knew I was being given the opportunity to win.

“But my greatest fear when joining the team was that I wouldn't be able to take a place in the heart of the tifosi, because I promised I'd do that by means of results.

“Entering the Juventus Stadium is a unique emotion and I think our first home victory this year was the most important. The stadium is an extra resource for the team and for all of us.

“As for our formation, it can change. We can play with three or four defenders and then modify it, but these are just details.

“Our best game so far was against Lazio [3-0, November 22].”

Finally, Allegri was asked whether he'd forgiven the supporters for their initial scepticism in his regards.

“I certainly did. Forgiving was the right thing to do, because I think the reaction of the supporters to my appointment on July 16 was normal.

“The month of July saw some very sudden changes for the club. It was only by means of hard work and respect for the tifosi that we did well this season, and now we must finish it at our very best, because we still haven't won anything.

“We're not at the end of the championship, much less the Champions League or the Coppa Italia.”

[Socrates 7962]

Pirlo: ‘Allegri brings calm’

Apr 16, 2015

Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo says Coach Massimiliano Allegri has brought ‘calm’ to the Bianconeri in Europe.

The Old Lady triumphed 1-0 over Monaco on Tuesday night to put themselves in a good position to qualify for the Semi-Finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2003.

“He’s brought us a great calmness,” Pirlo explained in an interview with Sky.

“He didn’t give too much importance to the games, as though we had to win them all to go forward, after the less than beautiful performances in recent years.

“So he gave us security, he’s experienced a lot of Champions League games with Milan, and that’s helped.”

[Socrates 7962]

Allegri Set To Renew Juventus Contract

Apr 20, 2015

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri is very close to renewing his contract with the Bianconeri until 2017, after a highly impressive first season at the helm of the Serie A champions.

The 47-year-old tactician signed a contract until June 2016 with Juventus last summer, replacing Antonio Conte, and has ever since achieved impressive results by exceeding pre-season expectations.

According to Il Messaggero, the Juventus board is extremely satisfied with how the former AC Milan coach has managed the team and are working intensively on renewing his contract, either by the end of the Serie A campaign or in mid-June.

Furthermore the media writes that a contract is prepared for Allegri until June 2017 with an option of extension until 2018, as well as with an increased annual salary from his current wages of €2m/year.

[Socrates 7962]

Conte Who? Allegri on Course
to Eclipse Juventus Favourite

Apr 22, 2015

Leading Monaco 1-0 going into the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final, Juventus are on the cusp of a first semi-final appearance in 12 years, but it took a little help from a man once considered a sworn enemy.

Some 300 Bianconeri supporters were there to greet Massimiliano Allegri upon his appointment as manager of the Old Lady last July, though as Football Italia noted at the time, few were smiling.

To their way of thinking, the recruitment was a betrayal, with Juventus turning to a former enemy in Allegri.

This was the manager, after all, who had helped AC Milan to the 2011 Scudetto while Juve languished down in seventh.

He was the same manager who had come so close to spoiling Juventus’ unbeaten, title-winning Serie A campaign a year later.

Since then, Juve have gone from strength to strength, while Milan and Allegri have gone backwards, with the manager unceremoniously ditched in January last year.

Imagine the blow then when it was revealed that not only would Antonio Conte be leaving the club, but he would be replaced by a Milan cast-off in Allegri. Yet all was not as it appeared.

Conte captured three consecutive league titles with the Turin giants but, upon announcing his exit, noted, in quotes published by BBC Sport, that it, "may be more difficult to keep winning with Juventus.”

"I have matured with time and my feelings led me to make this choice," he said.

Though the 45-year-old appeared to point to his concerns that Juve would struggle to dominate domestically, with Roma and Napoli getting stronger, Europe may also have been a concern.

A Champions League quarter-final appearance in his second season aside, Conte’s Bianconeri had endured a miserable run in the European Cup last term, winning just one of six group games.

Even in the Europa League, with the final played at the Juventus Stadium up for grabs, Juve and Conte could not muster the home win required against Benfica in the semi-finals.

Afterwards, the Italian lost his cool, blaming referee Mark Clattenburg for the result.

“We feel like we're not being taken seriously, and UEFA should show us more respect by sending a referee of the required standard,” he said in quotes carried by Reuters.

Yet for all of Conte’s bluster, the result highlighted a relatively common concern relevant to those behind the scenes at Juventus—they were in danger of becoming dominant domestically while weak on the continent.

With the 45-year-old appearing to conclude he was not the man to take the club to the next level, few would have expected the Turin outfit to turn to Allegri.

But that viewpoint fails to do justice to Allegri’s abilities as a manager.

The man who kick-started Sassuolo’s ascent from Serie C1 also-rans to a Serie A mid-table outfit, it was Allegri who guided the club to Serie B for the first time in 2009.

Cagliari owner Massimo Cellino had seen enough, recruiting the Italian a year later.

In just under two seasons at the club, Allegri excelled again, keeping Cagliari in mid-table on a limited budget and earning the Albo Panchina d’Oro award for manager of the season in 2009—just ahead of Conte with Bari at the time.

Recruited by Milan after falling out with Cellino, Allegri captured a first Serie A title in six years during his debut season with the Rossoneri.

Yet one of the biggest achievements of those early years stemmed from the 47-year-old’s ability to compete on three fronts.

In his first two seasons, Allegri’s Milan reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia in consecutive years, as well as taking the league title to the wire on both occasions—winning one and losing another.

All of this came against a backdrop of continued unrest in the ranks, with star players like Kaka and Ronaldinho coming and going during that period and resources proving limited.

Things may have ended badly for the Italian with the Rossoneri but in hindsight, his limited success at the club looks all the more remarkable.

Without Allegri, things have hardly got better for Milan, who finished eighth under Clarence Seedorf in 2014 and may not even make the top 10 under Inzaghi.

Their former coach, meanwhile, appears to be working his usual magic at Juventus.

Juventus are in the Coppa Italia final and aiming for a first victory in 20 years, cruising to a fourth consecutive Scudetto, with a great chance of reaching the Champions League semi-finals.

Allegri has also come up trumps in the games that mattered.

There was the 3-0 second-leg semi-final win over Fiorentina at the Artemio Franchi—a ground where they had won on just one of their previous four visits.

Borussia Dortmund were put to the sword in Europe with a 3-0 win at the Westfalenstadion after a run of four straight defeats in Germany.

Lazio, second in Serie A and on a run eight consecutive wins prior to their meeting in Turin, were also downed 2-0 to quash any talk of a late title charge.

The players have also responded to Allegri.

Paul Pogba has equalled his best-ever season for goals for Juve, and Tevez has scored five more goals than he did last term.

Even Andrea Pirlo has come round, with Football Italia reporting that the pair had clear-the-air talks after the player claimed Allegri had forced him out of Milan.

Some may point to the disappointing campaigns of Roma, who have endured a rotten run of four wins in their last 16 league games, and Napoli as giving Allegri an easy ride.

Serie A news, meanwhile, highlighted this notable disparity between Conte’s record at Juventus and Allegri’s at AC Milan in one particular tweet.

Serie A News @TransfersCalcio
Conte at Juventus: 151 games 102 wins
win percentage: 67.55%
Allegri at Milan: 178 games 91 wins
win percentage: 51.12%

But with Wikipedia now putting Allegri’s win percentage at Juve at a hefty 68.89 per cent, it’s becoming apparent that the problems were with Milan rather than their manager.

At this stage, Allegri is in a no-lose situation. Win the league, and he has maintained the success cultivated by Conte.

But go further in the Champions League or win the Coppa Italia, and few can argue against the notion that he has eclipsed his predecessor.

[Socrates 7962]

'Allegri brings international experience'

Apr 27, 2015

Former Juventus and Italy Coach Marcello Lippi believes current Bianconeri boss Massimiliano Allegri has brought international experience to the club.

In an interview with Radio Onda Libera, the World Cup-winning Coach compared Allegri with his predecessor Antonio Conte and discussed Sunday’s derby defeat to Torino.

“Conte began his work by making a fantastic impression that also came from his Juventus DNA, with the right desire and character,” Lippi said.

“Allegri brought something different and international experience that is producing further improvement.

“Torino pulled off a great result and it is further confirmation of the great work of [Giampiero] Ventura.

“The last time I was there was when Torino won two derbies but were fighting against relegation, whereas now they’re in a different dimension.

“Juve managed the game intelligently and played a great derby despite having expended energy on other commitments.

“Juventus dominate in Italy and are beginning to win their important matches on the European stage as well.”

[Socrates 7962]

Massimiliano Allegri: 'Juventus can beat Real Madrid'

Apr 27, 2015

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has said that his team are not afraid of facing Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

The Bianconeri have not managed to reach the final of the European Cup since 2003, but Allegri believes that they are more than capable of knocking out the current holders.

"It's a fascinating match against the European champions, a stellar team," he told Sky Sport Italia. "We're aware of our ability, and we want to do what we can until the end. We have no fear, but we respect Real.

"If we get to the final it would be extraordinary, but we certainly don't want to settle for just having gotten here [the semi-final]. There's always the tradition of wanting to win here, because that's the tradition of 117 years of a club which has won in Italy and Europe, though in the latter some finals have gone wrong.

"This year we've done well in Europe, but we want to get to the final. We think we can beat Madrid, if that wasn't the case we wouldn't even bother turning up."

Juventus last won the Champions League in 1996.

[Socrates 7962]

Allegri: ‘Torino will help us grow’

Apr 28, 2015

Juventus’ defeat to Torino on Sunday will help the team to grow, according to Coach Massimiliano Allegri.

The Old Lady lost to their city rivals for the first time in 20 years at the weekend, but Allegri says the young players in the squad will benefit from the experience.

“I think Sunday’s games is part of the further growth of this team,” Allegri said in his Press conference ahead of the Fiorentina game.

“In this squad there are some very young lads including [Alvaro] Morata, [stefano] Sturaro, [Roberto] Pereyra and [Kingsley] Coman.

“I think games like this can teach these lads that when you play for a big team you always play to win, so you have to be in the habit of playing to win every two or three days.

“It’s different to playing for a small club where you play once a week. As with all things, it takes time and a period of growth.

“On Sunday the strikers were criticised, but I think if you look at Morata, he’s in his first year in Italy, he’s a 22-year-old lad who wasn’t a starter at Real Madrid and now finds himself in the limelight at Juventus.

“It’s normal that there will be periods where he does well, and others where he does less well, until he finds the right balance to produce on a consistent basis.

“This applies to everyone else too, it’s a normal growth process for any individual player, especially a young one, when they arrive at a massive club.”

The Bianconeri face a first Champions League semi-final since 2003 on May 5, but Allegri warns the players must be entirely concentrated on Fiorentina tomorrow.

“I think the players are thinking about the game tomorrow, not Cristiano Ronaldo. We have to play one game at time, we can’t play them all together.

“We can’t play the match against Real Madrid today or tomorrow, we have to play it on May 5.

“We have to prepare well for the match tomorrow night, because it’s harder to work with defeats weighing on you, and it takes away a little bit of certainty.

“So we have to think about tomorrow, and try to improve what we’re doing, the things we started doing on July 16.

“We’re getting to the end of the season, and we’re fighting on every front, so we have to make sure we don’t stop working and we must try to improve the things we need to improve.”

[Socrates 7962]

Allegri bans Scudetto party

Apr 30, 2015

Max Allegri has banned Scudetto celebrations if Juventus get the necessary point at Sampdoria on Saturday.

The Bianconeri need just one point to secure their fourth consecutive Serie A title and could well get it on Saturday at Marassi.

However, the fans are banned from making the trip to Genoa following crowd trouble in the Turin Derby and the game is just days before Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final with Real Madrid.

It’s therefore reported that Coach Allegri has ordered no Scudetto celebrations this weekend, as he doesn’t want any distractions going into the showdown with Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

“It would also be better to celebrate on home turf against Cagliari next Saturday,” he was quoted as saying.

That means no big dinners, no nights out clubbing and no more than a glass of champagne each over the weekend.

Against Cagliari the Juventus Stadium will not be full anyway, because the Curva received a two-match ban for the incidents around the Derby della Mole.

[Socrates 7962]

Juventus prepare Allegri renewal

May 1, 2015

Juventus could be looking to renew Max Allegri's contract before the end of the month, according to reports, with a new deal until 2017.

The new Coach had some big shoes to fill this season after the departure of Antonio Conte, but results so far appear to vindicate his backers.

The Bianconeri have a virtual hold on the Scudetto and are contenders for the Champions League and the Coppa Italia, leading the club to reward the work of the Coach.

According to Calciomercato.it, the Old Lady will be renewing Allegri's contract at the end of the month, with a new deal that will guarantee his place until 2017.