Juventus director Beppe Marotta discussed Max Allegri’s tactical versatility for the big Napoli game and how they’ll deal with Gigi Buffon’s retirement.
It kicks off at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), click here for the line-ups and Liveblog.
Juventus director Beppe Marotta discussed Max Allegri’s tactical versatility for the big Napoli game and how they’ll deal with Gigi Buffon’s retirement.
It kicks off at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), click here for the line-ups and Liveblog.
“It’s certainly an important match for both teams, but with five rounds to go and 15 points up for grabs, that’s a lot. It’s important for us to put in a fine performance and then the result should follow,” Marotta told Mediaset Premium.
“We expect a lot from everyone. Dybala is one of the players who is most under the spotlight of critics, but football is a team sport and it’d be a mistake to rely on only one player.
“We have to see what happens during the game as well, with players off the bench, and of course the tactical intelligence of the Coach.”
The line-up chosen this evening could be a 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 or even a 4-4-2.
“Even we struggle at times to figure out what line-up or system Allegri is using! The results certainly speak in his favour and we trust him going into this important match.
“We are concentrated on the present. The future will be seen calmly over the next few weeks and months.”
Marotta was asked if he had to remove a Napoli player from the opposition squad, who would it be?
“I wouldn’t know who to choose. Maurizio Sarri has this great ability to make the most out of the players he used, even if his squad is smaller than ours and so the starting XI tend to be the same.
“Obviously, the ones that we’re most afraid of are those who score goals, but the whole team are travelling at an extraordinary level and the top two have left a huge gap behind towards the third, fourth and fifth sides.”
Finally, Marotta was questioned on how Juventus are preparing for what could well be the final matches in the career of Gigi Buffon.
“If we reached a decision to conclude this experience with Juventus, we’d have on the one side great regret, but on the other the gratitude of having worked with a great champion. Buffon has made this club greater since his arrival, given many values to this club and if he does decide to walk away, we’ll always remember the values of this great player and man.
“Nothing official has been stated, as it’s important to leave that to him. It’s only respectful to leave such an important announcement to the man himself and if anything President Andrea Agnelli.”