Maurizio Sarri believes he has made a “positive” start at Juventus but warns “we still have room to grow” ahead of facing Lokomotiv Moscow tomorrow.
Sarri remains unbeaten in competitive games this season, but much of the stylish play promised by his reign has yet to be seen during Juve matches.
“In Europe if you don’t do play at a worthy level, you don’t pick up points,” the former Chelsea boss said at a Press conference.
Maurizio Sarri believes he has made a “positive” start at Juventus but warns “we still have room to grow” ahead of facing Lokomotiv Moscow tomorrow.
Sarri remains unbeaten in competitive games this season, but much of the stylish play promised by his reign has yet to be seen during Juve matches.
“In Europe if you don’t do play at a worthy level, you don’t pick up points,” the former Chelsea boss said at a Press conference.
“It’ll be a difficult game, they already made it difficult for us in the first leg. In the Champions League if you don’t put in performances, you don’t get results.
“The objective is to get past the group stage. We then want first place in the group, but we’re facing a team that are playing to keep their own hopes of qualification alive.
“The balance sheet for me has been positive so far, both in the League and the Champions League.
“We still have room to grow. If you look at the data of the last few seasons and this one, it’ll differ in terms of the team’s centre of gravity, attempts at goal and goals conceded.
“They won’t always be for the better but they’re different. We’re working in a different way now.
“I have the feeling that, luckily, our players have room for improvement.”
The Bianconeri needed a late Paulo Dybala brace to beat Lokomotiv 2-1 at home last month, so is the coach expecting a different approach from the Russian side?
“If there were countermeasures against teams who sit back, no-one would sit back anymore.
“It’s difficult, unless you find the breakthrough straight away. These are situations that are resolved through a single player rather than tactics.
“Luckily we have a host of players with great quality. If they repeat the attitude they played with in the first game then we’ll figure it out, but they’ll have a different game this time around.
“They’re different at home. They’re more aggressive and proactive.”
Finally, the 60-year-old was asked about whether Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain would ever be partnered in attack.
“The last thing I want to do is convince them to accept staying out.
“The lads knew the situation well from the start. They took themselves off the market and stayed.
“By making that choice, they knew they would’ve hardly played together. If I can get them to play together, I’ll be the first person to be happy.”