Andrea Pirlo admits Paulo Dybala was upset after remaining on the bench for 90 minutes against Crotone: ‘Sooner or later he will play.’
Pirlo confirmed yesterday’s reports that claimed the player wasn’t happy for staying in the bench for the whole game against Crotone were accurate.
"I talked to him yesterday,” Pirlo revealed.
Andrea Pirlo admits Paulo Dybala was upset after remaining on the bench for 90 minutes against Crotone: ‘Sooner or later he will play.’
Pirlo confirmed yesterday’s reports that claimed the player wasn’t happy for staying in the bench for the whole game against Crotone were accurate.
"I talked to him yesterday,” Pirlo revealed.
“I talk to him like I do with everyone else. He was upset because he didn’t come in on Saturday but he is coming back from three months of inactivity and three days in a room in Argentina being treated for an intestinal virus.
“He could play in Crotone but we were reduced to ten men and it was not possible to let him in.
“Now he is available, sooner or later he will have to enter the pitch. He has not played a single minute yet, we will see what to do.
“He’s a key player for us, he’s a champion, and I certainly don’t notice it now that I’m the coach.
“He’s not been playing because he’s never been well and hasn’t been constantly training.
“Dybala can play anywhere, good players can find the right position on their own. He’s a striker, he needs to stay as close as possible to the goal. He can play up front or between the lines".
The Old Lady are set to face Mircea Lucescu's Dynamo Kiev in their Champions League debut this season tomorrow.
"I’ll do as my players do. I’ll sleep, I’ll eat, I’ll come here for the game. I won’t play Play Station but I don’t change my habits".
"Lucescu was my first coach, he brought me to the first team when I was 15 and I made my debut at 16.
“We still talk to each other, I will always be grateful to him. Tomorrow is good opportunity to challenge him.”
Juventus will have to do without Cristiano Ronaldo who has tested positive for Covid-19.
"Cristiano unfortunately has positive for Covid and is absent, like on Saturday," Pirlo said.
“We have other players who can play in that position, like [Alvaro] Morata did in Crotone.
“I don’t think we’re gonna change any more men".
“I’m feeling ok, unfortunately I can no longer play and I leave a little more tension to the players.
“I am serene, it will be my first game as a coach in the Champions League but in these tournaments, and in the groups, the first game is fundamental.
“It’s important to win it to continue with confidence and begin with three points.
“We know what to do, we are calm but it is essential to begin with a win.”
Aaron Ramsey has returned to the team after missing the last Serie A clash in Crotone with an injury.
"Ramsey feels better, he’s been training for the last two days, we hope to have him available tomorrow".
“We are a team that is equipped win the Scudetto. Juventus always play to win everything," insisted Pirlo.
“We will try to do it, if we are better than [our opponents], then well.
“We lost points in Crotone but we are a team under construction. We need time to work and to put into practice what we prepare during the week".