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Tag: JUVENTUS

  • Cristiano Ronaldo was Juventus scapegoat – Evra

    Cristiano Ronaldo was Juventus scapegoat – Evra

    Cristiano Ronaldo was made a “scapegoat” for Juventus’ shortcomings during his tenure at the club, according to Patrice Evra.

    Following three successful years in Turin with two Scudetto crowns, two Serie A Footballer of the Year titles during his time in Italy, Ronaldo found himself cast as the villain in his final term – a role Evra says was “ridiculous” for the striker.

    “Cristiano needs love and respect,” Evra told La Repubblica. “Instead, at Juve, he was becoming the scapegoat.

    “The criticisms in Italy have been ridiculous and a bit hypocritical. [It was a] mistake when [Massimiliano] Allegri said: ‘Cristiano will not play all the games’. There is no need to say things in public. In any case, Cristiano’s only true love is Manchester United.”

  • Bonucci disappointed me leaving for AC Milan – Chiellini

    Bonucci disappointed me leaving for AC Milan – Chiellini

    Juventus captain Giorgio Chiellini admits he was disappointed with Leonardo Bonucci when he left for AC Milan.

    Bonucci only a year at Milan before returning to Juve in 2018.

    “I was disappointed,” Chiellini told DAZN. “I wrote him a message in private. Life’s choices must be accepted, but I knew he was making a mistake.

    “Milan at the time, with all due respect, was not Real Madrid, not the Milan of today. Going there today would be different. In that period, Leo took a step back in a difficult moment.”

    Chiellini believes the 34-year-old wouldn’t have made the decision if they spent time together the summer of the move.

    “If we had gone on vacation together the month before, maybe he wouldn’t have left,” Chiellini said. “I would have made him understand he was making a mistake.”

  • Serie A: I respect Jose Mourinho a lot – Allegri

    Serie A: I respect Jose Mourinho a lot – Allegri

    Juventus coach Max Allegri says they meet Roma today in top shape.

    However, Allegri will delay naming his starting XI as he considers how to approach the game.

    “Clear ideas are big words,” Allegri said at a press conference. “Today, for the first time, I see the whole team together.

    “The Europeans returned between Wednesday and Thursday, while the South Americans arrived yesterday. Let’s see what we’ll do. I’ll decide in the morning.

    “Juventus vs. Roma is always a great match where there has often been controversy. There’s [Jose] Mourinho, who has given them character. They are ahead of us, and we must score points to not fall behind the best in the championship.

    “We need to prepare well and turn the switch back on immediately after the break.”

    Allegri says he’s looking forward to facing Jose Mourinho again.

    “Mourinho is a coach who has won a lot and I respect him a lot,” Allegri added. “It’s in his character to, every now and then, do like he did with Manchester a few years ago.

    “Moreover, that gesture of the ears with Manchester United he did it at the end of Juventus’ most beautiful games. In the end, nobody remembers it because we lost.

    “It pleases me to have a coach of his value back in Italy.”

  • Juve win over Chelsea is confidence-boosting, Allegri says

    Juve win over Chelsea is confidence-boosting, Allegri says

    Juventus manager, Massimiliano Allegri, on Thursday highlighted the importance of beating Chelsea after his underperforming side topped the 2020/2021 UEFA Champions League holders on Wednesday.

    The 1-0 win helped the former champions to preserve their 100 per cent record in Group H.

    Federico Chiesa scored the earliest second-half goal in Opta’s Champions League records as Juve overcame Chelsea in Turin.

    Juve came into the blockbuster showdown with just two wins from their first six Serie A fixtures this season, though they did ease past Malmo in their Champions League opener.

    It is only the fourth time Juve have won their first two matches of the Champions League group phase without conceding a single goal.

    The last two (this season and 2018-19) have been under Allegri.

    Allegri reveled in the result as Juve continue to grow in his second stint at the Italian giants, having replaced Andrea Pirlo in the off-season.

    “It was important to get the three points, this victory is a step forward to pass the group stage,” Allegri told reporters.

    “It is also important for the lads because they won against the European champions. This victory is good for all of us as it boosts the morale of the team.

    “We played well against a very physical team. The team was very organised defensively. We did not concede much, we had also some chance and in some moments, we could do better when managing the ball.

    “This helps us understand that you also achieve big objectives through this kind of games.”

    Allegri added: “There are no turns. It is a game that allows us to go to six points and certainly look at the champions with more optimism to try to go through. Then the championship is another thing.”

    After nullifying Chelsea star Romelu Lukaku, Juve and Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci said: “I see it more as a game that should serve as a lesson.

    “But as mentioned it was a bit of matches we were looking for that attitude that we had lost a bit in recent years and that had only been seen in fits and starts.

    “It must be the demonstration, it must be an example, it must not be the exception.

    “The mental intensity and the desire to be a team on every ball: that made the difference tonight because the qualities are there.

    “Sometimes, maybe, we are technically wrong too much. But with this mentality, with this intensity that we had tonight, the victories in certain games come as a consequence.”

  • Paul Pogba could join Juventus – Raiola

    Paul Pogba could join Juventus – Raiola

    Super agent Mino Raiola has talked up a return to Juventus for Paul Pogba as his client’s Manchester United contract runs down.

    The France international’s contract with the Red Devils is set to expire in the summer.

    According to Raiola, the World Cup winner is open to the idea of returning to the Allianz Stadium.

    He said: “Paul Pogba is out of contract in June, so we’ll talk with Man Utd and we’ll see what happens. Juventus?

    “Paul still loves Turin.

    “There’s a chance that Pogba will return to Juventus, yes – but it also depends on Juventus plans.”

    Pogba, 28, left Juve in the summer of 2016 to re-join United in a then world-record £89.3 million deal.

  • Juve couldn’t build team around Ronaldo – Del Piero

    Juve couldn’t build team around Ronaldo – Del Piero

    Juventus great Alessandro del Piero has criticised his old club for not making the most of Cristiano Ronaldo during his three seasons in Turin.

    Del Piero has weighed into the debate after seeing Ronaldo’s two-goal return for Manchester United on Saturday.

    He wrote for La Gazzetta dello Sport: “It is essential to avoid making comparisons with previous seasons or making excuses with the market or with those who are no longer here. Count those who are here.

    “I don’t think we should talk about the fact that we are not prepared, we have to deal with reality. Obviously, he didn’t want to stay and paying such a high salary wouldn’t have been the best. I still think that Juventus’ attack can be very competitive.

    “Ronaldo is a champion and we had to sign him. But the problem was that the team couldn’t grow around the superstar. We often judged Cristiano’s performances almost independently of Juventus’ and it’s symptomatic that something didn’t work.

    “The results in European competitions were not up to the task, but if we think that Manchester City has not yet won a Champions League, we realise that investment is not always synonymous with victories.”

  • Allegri defends Juve players after Napoli defeat

    Allegri defends Juve players after Napoli defeat

    Juventus manager Max Allegri defended his players after their 2-1 defeat to Napoli.

    The Bianconeri have had a disastrous start to the campaign with one point from three rounds, drawing 2-2 with Udinese, losing to Empoli and Napoli.

    “I cannot reproach my players for anything this evening. We put in a worse performance against Empoli, but today unfortunately we paid the price for errors,” Allegri told DAZN.

    “We weren’t as precise technically and lost the ball a few too many times in the second half. Napoli played very well, but in football when you don’t win, you can only shut up and work hard.

    “We should’ve been sharper, gone for the second goal when 1-0 up.

    “We conceded the equaliser and then this goal on a corner. There are many positives from the lads too. If you make mistakes like that, then naturally you’re going to concede on the counter.

    “I saw giant steps forward, the lads did everything they had to this evening, but there are moments during the season when the ball goes in and others when it doesn’t.”

  • Serie A: Juve sees defeat in first game since Ronaldo exit

    Serie A: Juve sees defeat in first game since Ronaldo exit

    Juventus remain without a victory this season after they lost to Napoli in the side’s first game since Cristiano Ronaldo left for Manchester United.

    Ronaldo, who helped Juventus win Serie A twice in three seasons, rejoined United in a £12.8m deal on transfer deadline day and scored twice for them in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Newcastle.

    In Ronaldo’s absence, ex-Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata gave Juve an early lead, but goals from Matteo Politano and Kalidou Koulibaly helped Napoli come from behind to win.

    Koulibaly’s winner came with five minutes to go after an error from Moise Kean, playing for Juventus for the first time since completing a two-year loan move from Everton.

    Kean had only been on the pitch for three minutes and nearly scored an own goal with a misplaced header from a corner before Koulibaly converted the rebound, after goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny could only parry Kean’s header.

    Juventus, who came fourth in 2020-21, have only picked up one point from their opening three Serie A matches.

    Napoli are top of the league with nine points from three games, although they will lose top spot if Lazio, Roma, Inter Milan or AC Milan win on Sunday.

    Napoli play away at Leicester City in their Europa League opener on Thursday but may be without Italy striker Lorenzo Insigne after he injured himself while taking a corner and had to be replaced.

  • Ronaldo no longer wanted to play for us – Allegri

    Ronaldo no longer wanted to play for us – Allegri

    Juventus coach Max Allegri insists they had no option but to sell Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United.

    The Portugal captain quit Juve a fortnight ago after their draw at Udinese.

    Allegri said today: “Cristiano no longer wanted to play for Juventus, he found the solution for United and so he went. However, it would have been the last year at Juventus, and so we anticipated that he would be done here in a year.

    “He had three wonderful years, I wish him the best, but now we have to look forward. Don’t think about what it was, it doesn’t make sense. In life you just have to do. Winning as a group? It’s everywhere like that and at Juventus even more. To be competitive and try to win you need to have great ambition, self-love and passion in what you do.”

  • UFC legend Khabib reveals why Ronaldo left Juventus

    UFC legend Khabib reveals why Ronaldo left Juventus

    Cristiano Ronaldo quit Juventus for Manchester United last week because he was “bored with Italian football”.

    That’s according to good friend and UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    Nurmagomedov is in regular touch with Ronaldo and insists he was aware of his plans to leave for United a month before the move was confirmed.

    Nurmagomedov has since expanded on the messaging with Ronaldo, revealing to Sport24: “I don’t want to reveal any personal messages… Ronaldo told me that he was bored in Italy and wanted to return to England.

    “I’m not a fan of Italian football, in the Premier League any team can put on a show.”