The Juventus coach presents the Italian Cup final with Atalanta: “We must think that it is the last one. We will have to win as many duels as possible”
Massimiliano Allegri presents there Italian Cup final against Atalanta. In the event of a Juventus victory, the Tuscan coach would have 5 successes, an absolute record. “Tomorrow, regardless of tactics and technique, we will need availability on the pitch win as many duels as possible – he has declared – We have a 50% chance of winningyou have to be good at bringing the episode to your side knowing that with them the games never end. If we are good and a little lucky we can take it home, but the objective was the Champions League“. On the training: “Everyone is fine. If Locatelli is missing, Nicolussi Caviglia will play or I will have to invent something. I have doubts about the exterior.”
THE ALLEGRI CONFERENCE
How do you get to the final?
“Well, let’s hope for better tomorrow evening. We have achieved the Champions League objective and now there is this beautiful final to play, against a team that plays very well and which I also congratulate for the Europa League final.”
Atalanta without Scamacca? A disadvantage for you?
“Tomorrow, regardless of tactics and technique, we will need availability on the pitch to win as many duels as possible. We know that there are moments of difficulty in every match and we will have to counterattack in the best possible way.”
Much focus has been placed on the concept of resilience. Will we need something more tomorrow?
“We have a 50% chance of winning, you have to be good at bringing the episode to your side knowing that with them the games never end.”
Are you really underdogs?
“Football is wonderful, in an instant it can turn for or against you and just like a season. At the moment everyone thinks Atalanta is the favorite and for us tomorrow could even be the last final. It will take clarity, serenity and concreteness. If the opponents have been better, we will shake hands.”
How is Nicolussi Caviglia? Can he play?
“They’re all fine. If Locatelli is missing, Nicolussi Caviglia will play or I’ll have to invent something. I have doubts about the wingers, there could even be extra time.”
Would winning give a different meaning to the season?
“I repeat to the point of boredom, the main objective was for Juventus to participate in the next Champions League. There are moments in life when, if you can’t win, you can still guarantee a little treasure for the club. We’ll see if we win, but participating in these events It’s not for everyone. We’ll be good and a little lucky and we’ll be able to bring it home, but the goal was the Champions League.”
Will you study something particular for Koopmeiners?
“Atalanta have some important, physical and technical players. Their attackers are very good, we are no different. They thrive on euphoria and enthusiasm, we will have to play a final match, which is always a little different.”
Does anything change that they consider you to be underdogs?
“We will play with great respect for Atalanta, as we had in previous finals. Matches must be won on the pitch, we need to be good at bringing everything back to our side. But we need the conviction to bring home the Cup.”
What lessons can you draw from past finals?
“The Cup has weight and value because it is always a trophy. Being here to play it is already a result, now we have to be good at bringing it home. We have the chance to win, another important result.”
How do you defend against a team like Atalanta?
“The match could be along the lines of the championship but it will depend on how it evolves. It will require a lot of attention, in one-off matches the details make the difference. However, we have a strong team, which is difficult to play against when it puts the right amount of attention. Knowing that Atalanta plays well, I saw against Roma they played an extraordinary match but when you take the 2-1 then maybe the games change. Testimonial and great balance.”
How do you feel about this final compared to the others as Juventus coach?
“I am still a child, I live with great enthusiasm: it is always wonderful to participate in these events and tomorrow we will give everything we have. We have to lose, but also Atalanta: a final is like that.”
DANILO’S WORDS
How do you get there as a group?
“Surely getting to this final and winning it would give meaning to this season. We managed to reach the Champions League, but what we bring to the Juventus museum are the trophies. This would be a reward for teamwork and what we do every day “.
How are you?
“I’m fine. I had a small physical problem but I worked well. The match is so important that my body recovers quicker.”
Are you excited?
“Yes, in football as in life you always have to look forward to new challenges and objectives. It will be a special and different match for me and for the team, it’s something we can achieve at this moment and it would be nice to put a piece, even a small one, in the history of Juventus”.
Do you feel underdogs?
“Atalanta is having an important season, they have strong players and an expert coach. We must certainly respect this. But since 2012, Juve has reached 20 finals and this history must also be respected: let’s focus on the present, but if we look a bit back… It’s clear that it’s a final and anything can happen, Atalanta has its merits but we don’t feel less important or stronger than them.”
What can you offer differently compared to the championship?
“The message is that you never know when you’ll play the next final, you have to enjoy an atmosphere like this. I’ve done a lot but I haven’t played in a while. Let’s make the most of the moment thinking that it will be the last and that we won’t do any more to give everything.”
What memories do you have of the last final, the one in Reggio Emilia against Atalanta?
“I remember that it was a difficult time after Covid, we were back to having a bit of normal life. That moment makes us enjoy today even more: the full stadium, all the managers and the Juventus family present… Of course, Juve has changed a lot since that final, but the desire to win hasn’t changed.”
Can this Juve open a cycle? Will you be part of it?
“It’s too difficult to look ahead. We would like to play another final next year but we can’t promise it. The human characteristic that I feel I have most is resilience and Juventus in its history has shown it to have it, and a strong one. I assure you that there’s something in the team: we go down but we know how to get back up.”
Compared to the first round, what has been missing in recent months?
“I knew it would be a question coming here. There’s no reason, it’s a concrete thing that we’ve dropped. There are many small things that make the difference in football. This must be a lesson for next year too: if you want to win the championship you can never let your guard down.”
How is the mood after the draw with Salernitana?
“We’re fine, we didn’t expect the draw with Salernitana but then you arrive here to play such an important match, in a different atmosphere… It must give us a lot of motivation and satisfaction. We are calm, but with responsibility and aware of what we have to do do tomorrow.”
How do you rate your season, beyond tomorrow?
“At the beginning we were asked to reach the Champions League and reach the final of the Italian Cup to try to win. We had ups and downs and moments in which we were unable to achieve important results. However, goals allow clubs and managers to make important and more ambitious planning for next year”.
What should you pay more attention to tomorrow?
“They have a lot of physicality and a high pace, with and without the ball. If you’re not physically fresh and you’re not well they’ll put you in difficulty. We have to be on par with them in this sense and take advantage of the opportunities we possibly have. You have to be lethal and score” .
On your side you will find De Ketelaere, the most knowledgeable man. How did you prepare?
“He is the example that a footballer who is placed in the right environment can play very differently. At Milan he had difficulties, at Atalanta he is having a really important season. As a football fan I like him, technically he is beautiful to see and difficult to mark: these are the most exciting challenges for me, I’ve studied it and I hope that tomorrow I can feel comfortable.”
What does it mean to wear the Juventus armband? And what would it mean to lift a trophy?
“Everything I have experienced in football has prepared me to reach these moments with Juventus, to the responsibility of being the captain. It would be a very important goal for my history as a player: I have been here for 5 seasons, I am a Juventus player and I I will be forever.”
