Max Allegri full post match press conference vs. Roma

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri was interviewed by DAZN after the 1-0 loss against Roma at the Olimpico.

You hit the post three times, it was a very balanced game, but what did Roma bring to the pitch? 

“We knew about the difficulties, Roma is a tough team that doesn’t give you anything, and it’s not easy to create chances against them. In the first half, we could have done something more, but they ran a lot, many of their players finished the game with cramps and in difficulty. 

“At the end of the first half, they were already dropping back between the lines with the midfielders, then unfortunately, we conceded a goal where we could have defended better, we could have managed the ball better from the clearance, but that’s football. 

“If you can’t score, you lose, in a game where we could have done better in the chances we created. We even had a good chance at the end with Danilo, but unfortunately, there was also an expulsion after 40 seconds that could have helped us in the last 9 minutes.”

What led to the expulsion, in your opinion? 

“Moise Kean made a mistake, he apologized, but he made a mistake because he put the team in difficulty. So from these things, we always have to learn something. When you enter the game, you can determine it, besides, it was a foul in his favor, and he had a wrong reaction.”

In the first half, you had difficulties, but in the second half, you switched to the 4-3-3 that you had designed at the beginning of the season. Do you think the players are ready to play this way? 

“At that moment, we needed to play that way. Pogba is not yet 100%, and playing from the start is difficult for him. I have to manage Chiesa, although he played very well when he came in tonight. We have another game on Thursday and another on Sunday. 

“I believe that besides all these things that are going well, I also told the players at the end of the game that they need to be calm and serene because the team has already made 50 points. It’s normal to aim for a game that would have allowed us to reach 38 points, beat Roma, and approach Atalanta, so when you lose a game like this, in a normal position because we would be second for now, but we are not, it seems like the world is falling apart, but we have to be strong. 

“We have to recover tomorrow, resume training on Tuesday, and start again because what the players are doing is something important. From the outside, everyone talks about technique and tactics, but in the history of football, I think the situation that Juventus has suffered this year has never happened, which is why I really have to compliment the players for what they are doing. We have important goals to achieve, and a defeat cannot make us collapse.”

Is there a sense of frustration? 

“That’s exactly why we shouldn’t fall into frustration. Kean made a mistake regardless of that… Kean made a mistake, and that’s it. He came in, maybe he was nervous because he hadn’t played, but he put the team in difficulty. The players still need to remain calm; I talked to them even after the game because especially in these moments, but even after a draw, it seems like the world is falling apart, but it absolutely shouldn’t. 

“We could have made a few more points or a few less, I don’t know, but we’ve made 50 points. We have to keep working on this, and then what happened and what will happen doesn’t depend on the field. We have to reach the end of the season and be among the top four, for now, we are second.”

What department could have done better? Today, the midfield could have made things more difficult for Roma’s midfield, which appeared a bit tired. 

“I think after the goal, Locatelli was pressing a lot, we left Rabio a lot in front of the defense, and we needed a bit more organization because there were 35 minutes left, so at that moment, it’s easy to turn the game around. 

“Then there were some good plays. Let’s not forget when Pogba is inside the box, he should shoot, but instead he passes, and when Vlahovic should shoot from inside the box, the last chance from Danilo seemed quite spectacular, but that’s football. Tonight, it had to go this way against a Roma team that is still having an excellent season, and we know the characteristics of Roma. 

“They haven’t conceded a goal at home in six games, and tonight we could have had better chances. The first two crosses in the second half… we started the second half of the game well, but Fagioli played a short pass instead of hitting the ball, and it went over his head, and there was Leo in the box who should have closed in on the far post. 

“We could have certainly done better in those situations. We conceded a goal from 25 meters, Mancini did well, but we should have come out earlier. That’s football, and it must be accepted. We need to think about what we’re doing, then they can say whatever they want, but I’m not okay with that.

“Vlahovic is scoring less than in past seasons. He’s scoring less, but today he had a good game technically, he did very well compared to his last game. He also had opportunities when he didn’t shoot, he was present in the box. When Chiesa comes closer, it’s normal that we have more possibilities and we’re more offensive.”

Is the Europa League the main goal of the season? 

“The goal of Juventus is to try to reach those ahead of us, there are 13 games left, unfortunately, we threw away three points tonight. Even with a draw, we would have kept Roma 10 points behind, 9 points behind, but football is strange. 

“We deserved to win in the first leg, but in football, deserving something doesn’t count for anything. In football, if you win, you’re good, if you lose, you did something wrong, it’s very simple.”

The full reaction was posted by TuttoJuve.