Andrea Pirlo believes Mauricio Pochettino has ‘a Juventus identity’ and that the Bianconeri ‘need an Isco’ to win the Champions League.

Pochettino is one of the names reportedly being considered by Juve for next season after establishing Tottenham Hotspur as a top-four side in the Premier League and guiding them to their first-ever Champions League Final.

“He has a Juve identity, he’s a modern Coach who’s been in England for a long time,” he told Sky Sport Italia.

Andrea Pirlo warned Paulo Dybala “must prove himself” against Ajax and explains the Mattia De Sciglio choice for Juventus.

The Champions League quarter-final kicks off at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).

Click here for the line-ups and LIVEBLOG.

Max Allegri uses De Sciglio rather than Joao Cancelo at right-back, while Douglas Costa is not even fit enough for the bench due to a recurring calf issue.

Andrea Pirlo gave his verdicts on Juventus and Milan, calling Max Allegri “one of the best Coaches in circulation” who can beat Ajax even without Cristiano Ronaldo.

His two former clubs face off at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.

“Lucas Biglia and Tiemoue Bakayoko are two very different players, but at this moment Milan need a more muscular figure like Bakayoko,” Pirlo told Radio Deejay.

Andrea Pirlo believes Juventus are ‘better’ than Barcelona and that they can ‘destroy’ Ajax in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Juve are considered to have been handed one of the better last-eight draws, despite Ajax thrashing Real Madrid in the previous round, and Pirlo is backing his former club to deliver.

“Ajax are a good draw. Physically Juve can destroy them,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

Andrea Pirlo claims Mauro Icardi has lost more than Inter and that everything suggests it could be Juventus’ year in the Champions League.

Napoli, Inter and Milan occupy the three spots below Juventus in Serie A with only 10 rounds of fixtures left, and Pirlo expects the top four to stay as it is.

“The same three today, even though Lazio are doing well right now,” explained the former Italy midfielder to Gazzetta dello Sport.

Andrea Pirlo has advised ex-Italy teammate Mario Balotelli to take a leaf out of Moise Kean’s book. “He hasn’t wasted the confidence placed in him…”

Pirlo retired from football in 2017, ending his career in MLS with New York City FC, and the former Juventus midfielder admits he does not miss playing.

“I’m very well, I don’t miss having to train every day and I missed being able to stay with my family more,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso, Massimo Oddo and Massimo Ambrosini took advantage of their Liverpool visit to recreate an iconic Beatles image.

The four former Milan teammates were in the city after Saturday’s charity event, as Milan Glorie played out a 3-2 defeat to Liverpool Legends at Anfield.

They then took the opportunity to have some fun and recreated the Abbey Road album cover on a zebra crossing.

Andrea Pirlo and Giuseppe Pancaro were on target for Milan Glorie in a 3-2 defeat to Liverpool Legends at Anfield.

The charity event was packed with star names, including Coach Carlo Ancelotti, who set his Rossoneri out with the classic Christmas Tree formation.

Marcos Cafu looked much like his old self bursting down the right flank on to Manuel Rui Costa passes, but Luis Garcia missed a sitter on a rapid counter-attack.

Billy Costacurta lost sight of Robbie Fowler and allowed him to meet Glen Johnson’s cross one-on-one with Dida.