Coach Massimiliano Allegri addressed the media in his usual pre-match press conference ahead of Juve's first league encounter of the year, an away match against Salernitana, the last match of the first round of Serie A. The fixture comes just three days after the Italian Cup match played at the Allianz Stadium between the very same sides, with the Bianconeri emerging as resounding 6-1 winners.
DIFFICULTIES IN SALERNO
"Playing in Salerno is never easy, we will find a difficult environment because they will want to avenge Thursday's result and above all, by returning to league action, they will try to give continuity to their victory in Verona which boosted their efforts to stay up in Serie A. It will be a very complicated match and the boys know it. We must try to close the first round in the best possible way and then we will start thinking about the second round. It's fundamental to maintain the gap on fifth in the standings. I repeat it this time too, our first objective must be to qualify for the next edition of the Champions League and to do so we must continue to work well."
TEAM NEWS
"For us all the players are important, it's not just who starts from the beginning that matters, but whoever comes on during the match also has an impact and the boys know it. Hans Nicolussi Caviglia will play tomorrow. Andrea Cambiaso, however, is feverish and unlikely to be there. As for Moise Kean, he has not yet returned to training on the pitch, so it will still take some time before we have him back available, but we hope he can help us as soon as possible. Gleison Bremer will return and I think Federico Gatti and Danilo will be starters. Gatti is young and physically strong and can play close matches and Danilo has recently returned, therefore he needs to give continuity to his performances by putting minutes into his legs. Timothy Weah could start, but I haven't decided yet. Whoever is better will definitely play, I will choose the best formation possible. Dusan Vlahovic? Dusan is fine, Arek Milik also played well the other day. I have to understand how we are, with those available we will go to Salerno, knowing that the match will be very difficult. We will have to go onto the pitch with the right mentality, to return to Turin with the three points."
THE STRENGTH OF THE GROUP
"We must continue to work as we are doing, without getting too excited and without ever letting our guard down. The match the other evening shouldn't make us get excited, but push us to continue working well because it's important to think about one match at a time, without thinking too far ahead. Right now the thing that matters most is the team, regardless of who will play. We have to put egos aside and put the unit at the center and in this regard, the group is doing something splendid. In this we must follow the example of Gianluca Vialli, who I want to remember with great affection."