Genoa-Juventus
on the pitch
LIVE from 12.30pm
Two consecutive defeats and now Juventus.
For Alberto Gilardino's Genoa it was a difficult but at the same time fascinating away match.
The coach will have to do without the disqualified Sabelli and the injured Martin, Matturro and Ekuban but will be able to count on the return of Vasquez and Haps as well as a Malinovskyi recovering from a bad flu.
"We face a very strong and equipped team with players of international caliber, elements of physical structure but also of quality. This year they set out to win the championship and it is needless to say that Juventus is a difficult team to face and play against. We realized this in the first leg match when we played an important match. It will be difficult to face but what we want to do and what we put into the match will always count" said the coach.
"Allegri criticized? First of all, we are talking about a very good coach - explained Gilardino -. We coaches are inclined to suffer criticism as well as receive compliments. But I believe one can emerge from criticism stronger, it makes both the man and the coach grow. After all, it's part of the game, of being a coach."
The objective, however, is to interrupt the mini negative streak even though the ranking is not a concern.
"There is the desire to go and play the match against a great team like what happened in Milan with Inter. A match of great courage and personality. These boys, my boys have made an important journey up to now and have pushed hard.
There are ten games left to go and we will have to maintain the solid group.
For tomorrow we need everyone and the positive energy that has made the difference this year."
Juve wants to get back up, Allegri: 'Aware of the moment'
(by Emanuele Pastorella)
With one more night than usual spent at the J Hotel, Juventus wants to get back on their feet after having achieved only one victory in the last seven days and having been overtaken by Milan in second place.
"We all stayed at Continassa, I decided it on Tuesday and I spoke about it with the team, but nothing more - Massimiliano Allegri's explanation at the pre-Genoa retreat - and we know the importance of this match, as well as being aware of the moment we are living in."
The objectives are still within reach, but we need to change gear: "We want to resume the path we left in the last month - added the coach in view of tomorrow's match at 12.30 - and we know how important this match is: we must not looking neither forward nor backward, we are aiming for the known objectives which are qualification for the Champions League and the semi-finals of the Italian Cup."
The Bianconeri have lost their defensive solidity, the games in a row without a clean sheet have become seven and against Atalanta it was the fourth in a row with two goals against: "In reality in the last few games we have conceded few chances, but we have conceded many goals - the coach's analysis of the numbers - and moments like this happen over the course of a season: we need to pay more attention in the defensive phase, improving as a team."
Conflicting news arrived from the infirmary, with three returns and a last-minute withdrawal: "Perin and De Sciglio will return, as will Rabiot, but we have lost Milik" he announced in the conference.
And, speaking of the Frenchman, "the midfielder doesn't have 90 minutes left in his legs, but it's already a good sign to have found him again" explained Allegri, while for the Pole there is a "first degree lesion of the adductor longus" he said know the company, so he will only return in late April.
In the offensive department, however, Vlahovic will return after the suspension served against Atalanta and will most likely join Chiesa, while on the left there is an excellent possibility of seeing Kostic again in place of Iling-Junior.
This week Juve finally arithmetically reached the Club World Cup in the summer of 2025: "It will be a wonderful adventure, a completely new competition against very great teams - the coach commented - and it is the result of the club's work over the years" .
The elimination of Napoli from the Champions League has opened the doors for the Bianconeri, it will be played in the USA from 15 June to 13 July next year and Allegri's contract will expire on 30 June, practically halfway through the World Cup: "I remain calm, focused on the objectives this season" commented the coach.
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