The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Massimiliano Allegri

  • Ronaldo won’t leave Juventus, says Allegri

    Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has dismissed talk of Cristiano Ronaldo leaving the club in the wake of their Champions League elimination, confirming the 34-year-old will be in Turin still next season.

    Ronaldo had played in the semifinals of the Champions League in each of the past nine seasons, but Juve’s quarterfinal defeat to Ajax meant he would not be getting his hands on the trophy this year, having triumphed with Real Madrid in the past three seasons.

    Italian media reported his disappointment may lead him to seek a new club but Allegri said he is counting on the Portugal international moving forward.

    “Ronaldo’s had a great season and he’ll play tomorrow,” Allegri said at a news conference in Turin on Friday.

    “He’s the future of Juventus; an extraordinary player and he’ll have another great season next year.

    “He’s calm and disappointed like we all are because we’re out of the Champions League, and we would have liked to have won it. But football is made of joy and sadness.”

    Juve are expected to invest this summer in building a squad around Ronaldo which can challenge for the Champions League next term with Allegri adding that one player alone does not guarantee success.

    “I always said that with the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo, there was no mathematical assurance of winning the Champions League,” he said. “Football is not a science.

    Read Also: Ronaldo fined $22,000 by UEFA for celebration gesture

    “What’s been written about Ronaldo confirms that his arrival at Juve did not guarantee us the Champions League.

    “Look at Barcelona, who are back in the semifinals this year after four seasons and they’ve got [Lionel] Messi. There are lots of components to football.

    “If we only win the league, it still means we’ve had a great season.”

    The Old Lady need just one point to wrap up an eighth straight Serie A title and welcome Fiorentina to the Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

    ESPN

  • Ronaldo deserves Ballon d’or – Allegri

    Massimiliano Allegri believes Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to win the Ballon D’Or, following media reports that the forward has not been short-listed for the award’s final three for the first time since 2010.

    The Portugal international has won the prize, run by French magazine France Football and awarded to the world’s best player annually, five times and finished as runner-up five times since 2007.

    Media have reported that the podium for this year’s prize would be made up of Paris St Germain’s Kylian Mbappe and Luka Modric and Raphael Varane of Real Madrid.

    The winner would be named at a ceremony in Paris on Dec. 3.

    “He is doing well and yesterday he trained well. For what he has done, as I’ve said several times, he will deserve the Ballon D’Or,” Allegri said.

    Allegri shot down suggestions that his side were facing an injury crisis in midfield ahead of the visit of SPAL in Serie A on Saturday.

    Read Also: Ronaldo fantastic, Messi better — Etebo

    Sami Khedira and Emre Can were sidelined with injuries, but their absence does not concern the coach.

    “We will need to play with who we have on ground.

    “Blaise Matuidi returned today because he needed a few days of rest.

    ‘’We have Miralem Pjanic and Rodrigo Bentancur available; we will find a solution with who we have. We are not in an emergency,” he said.

    Allegri confirmed that Mattia Perin would start in goal alongside Ronaldo and Mario Mandzukic in attack.

    Paulo Dybala was likely to be rested, having only returned from international duty on Thursday.

    Allegri was encouraged by the forward’s development after he scored his first goal for Argentina against Mexico on Tuesday.

    “It’s a step forward for him, he is constantly growing, this year he has started very well and he is in a great physical and mental state.

    “His development must not stop; it depends on how much he wants it,” said Allegri.

    Juventus hold a six-point advantage over second-placed Napoli at the top of Serie A.

    The club from Turin remains unbeaten this season with 11 wins and a draw from 12 games, while SPAL are in 15th with 13 points.

  • Wenger urges successor to ‘respect’ Arsenal values

    Arsene Wenger used his farewell news conference as Arsenal manager on Thursday to urge his successor to “respect the values of the club”.

    The Frenchman departs after a final game at Huddersfield Town on Sunday and was in reflective mood as he contemplated his 22 years in charge.

    Speculation is intensifying over who his successor will be with British media reporting that Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri and former Arsenal captains Mikel Arteta and Patrick Vieira among leading contenders.

    Asked for his advice to the new man, Wenger said: “Respect the values of the club. I would like him to bring his own ideas.

    “It’s a chance for the players to see something different. But, on the other hand, I will say respect what has been built here.”

    Read Also: Who succeeds Arsene Wenger? Vieira leads contenders

    In spite of his many achievements, Wenger will depart on a low with Arsenal losing a seventh consecutive away game on Wednesday, 3-1 at Leicester City

    It was their worst run in more than half-a-century.

    On Sunday, Arsenal are looking to end their embarrassing record of being the only side in the top four tiers of English football not to pick up an away point this year.

    Wenger, however, still believes the club is in good shape for his successor.

    “The players’ attitude was great last night,” said Wenger. “They were fantastic. There is a special bond in this team.

    “There is something waiting to come out that is special. Hopefully that will come out next season.”

    Wenger said he is unsure about his immediate plans, but has been linked with a position as general manager at Paris St Germain (PSG).

    “When you stay for such a long period, you question if it is time to go now or not,” he said.

    “We live in a society where people want big change always, you know. I don’t know what I will do. Maybe go to Russia.

    “I have some work to do in France (next week) on Monday, Tuesday. On Thursday, I will come back and clear my office. After that, I don’t know.”

    Wenger also used the occasion to look back, saying that while he considered his 2004 ‘Invincibles’ team the best of his reign, he was at his most productive between 2006-2015.

    The ‘Invincibles’ went through the 2004-2005 season unbeaten.

    NAN

  • Allegri dismisses Juventus crisis talks

    Allegri dismisses Juventus crisis talks

     

     

    Massimiliano Allegri insists Juventus “are not in any kind of crisis” despite their rare home Serie A defeat at the hands of Lazio.

    Juve face Sporting CP, who sit ahead of them on goal difference in Champions League Group D, in a crucial contest in Turin on Wednesday.

    The Italian champions go into the game after a shock 2-1 reverse to Lazio, a result which ended an astonishing 57-match unbeaten run in front of their own fans.

    That result was preceded by an away draw against Atalanta, meaning Juve are already five points behind early Serie A leaders Napoli.

    Allegri, though, remains calm, even though he has urged his side to improve their focus, starting against Sporting.

    “We are not in any kind of crisis,” Allegri said at his pre-match media conference. “We are working towards being in a strong position on all fronts come the spring.

    “Against Lazio, we were playing well, but paid for a couple of mistakes at the start of the second half.

    “We are working to put right our mistakes. We need to improve our game management and concentration.

    “We need to continue to move the ball around quickly and with clarity of mind, whatever happens in matches.”

    With Barcelona three points clear at the top of Group D, Juve cannot afford a slip-up against Sporting.

    Allegri said: “We have respect for Sporting and we need to play a strong match both technically and mentally.

    “Sporting are full of talented, technical and fast players with a strong overall organisation. They took Barcelona to the wire on matchday two, so it will be a very tough match for Juve.

    “If we win these two games against Sporting we are through to the Champions League knockout stages. That is our aim.

    “We are aware of how important this game is for our Champions League campaign and we want to do well.”

    Midfielder Miralem Pjanic, who has not played since scoring in the derby victory over Torino a month ago due to a thigh injury, is in contention to feature.

    Allegri added: “Miralem Pjanic is OK. He is in good shape and has had time to rest. I will decide if he plays after training.

    “Having someone by his side who runs and presses like Blaise Matuidi obviously helps him greatly.”