Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri admitted that he expected a tough game against Lazio, despite edging the tie 3-2 on aggregate. The Bianconeri lost 2-1 on the night, but will still progress to the final where they will face either Fiorentina or Atalanta. Speaking with Sportmediaset in the post-match, Allegri reflected on a hard-fought win and the pressures that Juventus face at the moment:
“It was a tough game, we knew that,” said Allegri. “Conceding an early goal, then having a couple of situations where we risked conceding again. We had a good second half. It wasn’t easy because we could have collapsed, but the boys did well and deserved this final.”
Juventus has faced a rollercoaster ride in the past seasons, and Allegri acknowledged the challenges they’ve encountered. “It’s not easy at this moment. We play heavy games at Juventus. Last year was a situation that wasn’t suitable, and this year we trailed behind Inter until the end of January. Then there was a slump, and the last two months have been tough. Now we have to secure our place in the Champions League and then focus on the Coppa Italia final.”
Despite the victory, Allegri recognized areas for improvement, particularly defensive errors. “There were glaring mistakes leading to goals, but any team can struggle in these moments. It was an important final, also for the continuation in the league. Playing such games is tough, and these are tests of growth. The boys were in the game, they grew in the second half, and I believe we deserved to reach the final.”
Allegri addressed the paradox of facing criticism despite securing a spot in the Champions League and reaching the final. “This match also counted towards the Supercoppa; economically, it was important for the club. Balance is needed. Tonight was important, and the boys did well. Criticisms of Juventus are always there. It’s our fault for a first half of the season that nobody expected. Many were thinking about the battle with Inter, but I was worried about a second half of the season that would have its difficulties.”
Regarding his decision not to substitute Federico Chiesa, Allegri explained, “Federico is out for 70 minutes, and then he might solve it with a spark. They were physically tired, so the more quality we had upfront, the more solutions there were.”
