14 April 2018
Speaking to the media today ahead of Sunday's return to Serie A at home against Sampdoria, Massimiliano Allegri gave his final thoughts on Wednesday's result in Madrid and urged his side to turn the page with just eight games left in the season and two trophies still to fight for.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON MADRID
“I can only compliment the boys because they played a beautiful game. It was a wonderful match for all football fans and I think after seeing a game like that, the fans deserved 30 more minutes but it wasn’t to be and after three days of talking about it, it’s enough.
"Tomorrow, we have Sampdoria and a three-match week that will not necessarily be decisive but very important for the Scudetto. This is a championship that we should bring home with the Coppa Italia. Madrid must be put aside because we have to move forward and can’t change anything from Wednesday.
"For 20 years, Gianluigi Buffon has been a role model both on and off the pitch. If on one occasion he said the things he did, in a situation as tough as Wednesday night's, that is understandable and I challenge anyone to have reacted differently."
ALL EYES ON THE SCUDETTO
“Of course, on Thursday it was normal to still talk about the Madrid match and Friday we had a good training session. Today I will assess the recovery of the team. We want to take home a seventh consecutive scudetto and still have Napoli pushing us and not giving an inch.
"We have to keep working, struggling and finding the mental energy because this is what matters and we have a never-before-done goal in front of us especially for Buffon, Lichtsteiner, Marchisio, Barzagli and Chiellini. We must absolutely not let it slip."
EVERYONE TOGETHER
"Tomorrow is a match where we need everyone, those on the field and in the stands, because tomorrow is a home game against a Sampdoria team that defeated us earlier in the year.
"Everyone must be ready because tomorrow is like the match against Benevento. Coming into that one we had previously lost 3-0 and went to Benevento playing a match in very hot conditions also having the return trip to Madrid. Today, I’ll assess the physical condition of the squad and tomorrow whatever changes are made will be important but from a mental perspective we must play with a certain anger because you have to channel the frustration from Madrid onto the pitch.
Tomorrow the fans must be not only the 12th man but the 13th and 14th because getting three points tomorrow is fundamental."
TEAM NEWS
"Unless something happens today, Buffon starts in goal tomorrow and Cuadrado will return as well. At the front I have to made some decisions.
"I have to see who has recovered and decide whether to play Mandzukic and Higuain together or play one of them off the bench.
"Chiellini was rested in Benevento and will play along with one of Rugani and Benatia. I also have to choose who will play on the right."
