Maurizio Sarri insists he only focuses on Juventus ahead of the Coppa Italia clash with his former club Napoli: “I’m happy to be in the Final.”
The first trophy will be assigned tomorrow, as Juventus play Napoli at the Stadio Olimpico in the Coppa Italia, and the Old Lady coach doesn’t expect the high intensity of a normal Final.
Sarri watched his former club beat Inter 2-1 on aggregate in the other semi-final but felt the Partenopei sat back and waited to hit the Nerazzurri on the break.
Maurizio Sarri insists he only focuses on Juventus ahead of the Coppa Italia clash with his former club Napoli: “I’m happy to be in the Final.”
The first trophy will be assigned tomorrow, as Juventus play Napoli at the Stadio Olimpico in the Coppa Italia, and the Old Lady coach doesn’t expect the high intensity of a normal Final.
Sarri watched his former club beat Inter 2-1 on aggregate in the other semi-final but felt the Partenopei sat back and waited to hit the Nerazzurri on the break.
“In regards of the intensity, I don’t think the physical change will change in five days,” he said at a press conference. “We are in a particular moment; the games will be very difficult, the same goes for the mental and tactical aspects.
“It’s all part of the abnormal period. I watched a Napoli who tried to get their opponents high up and just waited.
“I don’t know if it was a choice or due to the physical situation. Napoli are a side that have recently expressed themselves very well. It will not be easy.”
Sarri revealed he has planned to give his forwards more defensive responsibility against the Partenopei on Wednesday.
“The positions I assign the attackers will be more defensive than attacking. We can’t play the role of a central striker.
“In front, there’s a great freedom to move in the attacking phase.”
The former Napoli and Chelsea coach confessed it’s not nice to read about himself not having won a title in Italy and tried to avoid the mind games started by his former President Aurelio De Laurentiis.
“I get a bit annoyed when I hear that I didn’t win anything in Italy because I won eight promotions,” he added. “That’s perhaps a small thing compared to the Champions League and the Scudetto, but it’s not easy.
“It's always an important incentive to win important trophies and there’s a desire to lift the cup. I focus on us; I’m not interested in Napoli. I’m happy that we are in the Final.”
The 61-year-old has claimed he will encourage the players to give their all to bring home as ‘many trophies as possible’ during the run-in.
“I will tell them that we played seven months and then were three months in lockdown before getting to play these games.
“Now, we have to bring out that little extra to take home as many trophies as possible.”