Massimiliano Allegri was joined by Manuel Locatelli in the pre-match press conference for the Champions League Round of 16 to be played tomorrow, Wednesday, 16 March with kick off scheduled for 21h00 CET. Both coach and player were under no illusions of the importance of the tie.
MASSIMILIANO ALLEGRI
A DECIDER
“I have a clear idea of the team I’ll put out. Let’s hope I choose wisely. I don’t know if this team has the quality or the maturity to reach the final, but we must have the ambition to reach the final. We must give our utmost to go as far as we can. Tomorrow is like a final, it’s a decider - there must be a winner, either over 90 minutes or 120.”
IN CONTENTION
“Without having gone through the first three months of the season as we did, we wouldn’t be where we are now. The squad has become solid. I had been out for two years. I came back to players I didn’t know. We started, having made mistakes, myself included.
“The objective is always to reach March still in contention on all fronts. Now we need to see if we are good enough to go further. From September to February you play to enjoy yourself later. Now, we have earned that right. The danger, though, is to think too far ahead. We must concentrate on the here and now, and keep our consistency.”
PLAYER AVAILABILITY
"Giorgio Chiellini, Paulo Dybala and Federico Bernardeschi are all back available. None of the three have 90 minutes in their legs, so substitutions will be important, especially if the match goes to extra time. Leonardo Bonucci is out after his efforts against Villarreal and Empoli, when he was still carrying a calf injury that he hasn’t shaken off yet. Also, Alex Sandro has a problem with his calf, so it is best not to risk him.
"Dusan Vlahovic will start. One between Alvaro Morata and Moise Kean will partner him. Morata is enjoying a good period of form. In my opinion, he was even playing well when he was receiving criticism because he was playing out of position."
OPPOSING VIEW
“Villarreal are an expert side with an excellent coach, who has won the Europa League many times. The team gives little away. We must concede as little as possible because they are a technical side. In the away leg, one lapse in concentration cost us dearly because we seemed to be in control of the match at that point. As we’ve seen, one moment can change the game.
“It’s a one-off match, and we have one thought in mind - make it to the next round. To do that, tomorrow the backing of the fans is important.”
MANUEL LOCATELLI
WINNING MENTALITY
“What’s important is our approach. We can’t get it wrong. We must demonstrate our hunger to win. I was struck by the winning mentality of this club. I sensed it on my first day here. Either you make it part of you, or you don’t make it here.”
MAKING PROGRESS
“We’ve taken huge steps forward in terms of creating a group identity after the difficulties at the start of the season. We are playing really well now. Arthur is a great lad. We get on well together. He impressed me years ago when I played against him back in my Milan days. I think highly of him.
“The coach knows my game better. I am happy in this more advanced position because it allows me more opportunity to attack the space and push forward. Certainly, there are aspects to my game I can improve, for example, I could score more, and the coach is here to bring this out in my game.”
TEST OF MATURITY
“Villarreal are a very technical side. They’ve been playing together for a few years now. They know how to punish any mistake, so we must produce a mature performance. What we need to do based on our analysis of the first leg, we’ll keep to ourselves, but we must score. We’ll certainly need plenty of personality.”