Maurizio Sarri concedes it is ‘not easy for Paulo Dybala and Cristiano Ronaldo to co-exist’ for Juventus, while he urges Miralem Pjanic to ‘realise he’s a great player.’
The coach spoke to Sky Sport Italia ahead of Friday’s Coppa Italia semi-final with Milan, the first game back since the COVID-19 lockdown.
Maurizio Sarri concedes it is ‘not easy for Paulo Dybala and Cristiano Ronaldo to co-exist’ for Juventus, while he urges Miralem Pjanic to ‘realise he’s a great player.’
The coach spoke to Sky Sport Italia ahead of Friday’s Coppa Italia semi-final with Milan, the first game back since the COVID-19 lockdown.
“Dybala is a phenomenal player and our only difficulty is that it’s not easy to make two atypical players like Dybala and Cristiano Ronaldo co-exist, but they can always make the difference,” said Sarri.
“It’s not simple on a tactical level to use them together, but when two players with this type of quality are available, the rest of the squad has to adapt, both when attacking and defending.
“There is the risk that the opposition penalty area can seem a little empty, but all this is a very pleasant problem to have.”
Pjanic has been repeatedly linked with a move away from Juventus this summer, with Barcelona leading PSG, Chelsea and Manchester United, as the midfielder struggled to fit into Sarri’s tactics.
“He seems much better now than he did before the lockdown. I spoke a great deal to Miralem, he is an extraordinary player and cannot afford to have four or five games below his standards, which is what happened lately.
“He agreed with me, and struggled at first to find the strength to react, but he must convince himself that he’s a great player. He can get one match wrong, but has to lift his head up and react. It’s been a positive mental journey for him and he can get back on his feet.”
Juve are top of the Serie A table, leading Lazio by a point, and will then face Lyon in the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 in August.
“With 12 rounds to go, we have to take every possibility into account. Dropping points at this stage of the season when we play every three days can be all too easy to do.
“As for the Champions League, I don’t think the long pause between legs will make that much of a difference, as it’s practically a one-off game.”