Alessio Tacchinardi believes Andrea Pirlo can’t continue to play for Juventus” data-scaytid=”4″>Juventus and Italy, and warns the Bianconeri ‘no more mistakes’ in Europe.

Alessio Tacchinardi believes Andrea Pirlo can’t continue to play for Juventus and Italy, and warns the Bianconeri ‘no more mistakes’ in Europe.

Pirlo has come under scrutiny for his performance in the Old Lady’s Champions League 1-0 defeat to Olympiacos, completing only 77 per cent of his passes before being substituted on 57 minutes.

Tacchinardi, part of the Juventus squad that lifted the Champions League in 1996, believes the former Milan man’s decision to return to the Italy fold is to blame.

“Andrea is an absolute champion, but he must make a choice between club and country,” Tacchinardi told Tuttomercatoweb.

“When there is an international break he could remain in Vinovo and recharge his batteries. What I’m seeing now is a Pirlo who comes back from international duty completely drained.

“Lots of players have retired from the international scene to continue their careers. I’m thinking of Nesta and Totti.

“Players are not robots, it’s not easy to shoulder this kind of physical burden when you have so many commitments.

“Juve are very much in need of him being physically and mentally fresh.”

Tacchinardi also warned his former club that they cannot afford any more slip-ups if they are to qualify for the Last 16 of the Champions League.

“Juve have to play in Europe the way they do in Italy – at full intensity throughout the game.

“A game like Olympiacos happens because the teams [in the Champions League] are top-notch, and they know they can get a result.

“Also they [Juve] started with the handbrake on. Juventus were poor in the first half, then came into the game.

“You can’t win the group like that, Juventus need to show up for the full 90 minutes, and if they don’t do that they’ll be out of the Champions League.

“In my view this team could reach the last eight, on the understanding that some teams are unreachable like Real [Madrid], Bayern [Munich] and Barcelona.

“The defeat to Olympiacos was the last chance to make mistakes. Juve have everything they need to be competitive, but they can’t afford any more mistakes.

“In Europe the standard has gotten higher, while in Italy it has fallen so if you don’t get used to the rhythm of the Champions League you won’t improve.”

Byrob

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