Massimiliano Allegri spoke to the media before Milan - Juventus' game which is set to take place at the San Siro tomorrow. Here are his words in today's press conference.
What kind of match will it be?
"A beautiful, stimulating match. At the moment, it's first against third. We know the difficulties; playing at San Siro is nice but at the same time challenging."
Is the betting case a cause for concern?
"I can talk about Nicolò Fagioli, but not the other two who are not part of Juventus. The club has spoken, and I align myself with what has been said. For Nicolò, a path begins that will bring him back on the field at the end of May. These seven months will serve him to maintain his athletic condition and, above all, to engage in social activities."
Giuseppe Marotta and Stefano Pioli consider you favorites, are they trying to put pressure on you?
"I don't know why they say that. One is the coach of Milan, the other is the director of Inter, so it's normal for them to say that Juventus is the favourite. We need to collect as many points as possible to be among the top 4 by the end of May. Let's enjoy tomorrow's match against Milan, and then we'll see what we've been able to accomplish."
How are Federico Chiesa and Dusan Vlahovic?
"Vlahovic has been training with the team all week and is doing well. Chiesa did half a training session yesterday; today we will evaluate whether to include him or not, if he feels calm enough to be available."
With Theo Hernandez's suspension, could Timothy Weah be a key player? Allegri responded:
"Regardless of Theo's suspension, Weah is growing. He had a down moment after the tour, but now he has found his balance. It's normal for a young man coming from another league to need time to adjust. Now he's doing very well."
How are Andrea Cambiaso and Filip Kostic?
"I still have to decide who will play. Iling has also returned and is doing well. These are players who can potentially share the match between them."
How did you see Federico Chiesa?
"I need to understand if he feels calm after the injury. He didn't play against Torino, and he didn't play with the national team. Yesterday, he had a recovery training session. Today, I will assess his condition. We hope to have him available because tomorrow the substitutions will be crucial, and the more players I have, the better."
Allegri, what reactions do you expect from the team?
"The curiosity lies in seeing what kind of game we will play against one of the three favorites along with Inter and Napoli for winning the championship, in such an important and packed stadium."
Can you change the game system without Danilo and Alex Sandro? Who will be the captain tomorrow?
"We have Rugani and Huijsen; we shouldn't need to change anything. It's important to have the right approach in a tough game. Rabiot will be the captain; it's his first match, and we hope it's a good omen."
What does this Juventus lack? What's the overall picture? Allegri said:
"Dolcetti, more than being passionate about paintings, paints. Now he's painting nature, and he's very talented and creative. What does Juventus lack? It's a team with a desire to perform, it's determined, and there's a good atmosphere. But we need to be good in difficulties; it takes serenity and inner strength. We know that winning is not easy. Tomorrow is a wonderful match that needs to be played in the best physical and mental conditions."
Will Dusan Vlahovic start?
"I don't know yet; I'll have to decide today because he's also coming from a period of inactivity. If he starts, it's unlikely he'll have the entire game in his legs. It's important to have him back because he started very well, scoring important and wonderful goals. Then he stopped, and finally, we've recovered him."
How did you find Arkadiusz Milik and Moise Kean?
"They are doing well. I'm happy for Kean, who has returned to the national team and is growing a lot as a person. Today is the final training, and I'll decide; hopefully, we get it right."
Have you spoken with Nicolo Fagioli?
"I talked to him because it was the right thing to do. It won't be an easy time for him, but he knows very well that the club, staff, and team are there for him, and we're waiting for him. He will have to use these months to work on the field and engage in activities off the field. At the end of May, he can return to the field, and we'll welcome him with open arms so he can continue his career, which is only just beginning. We are here to support and comfort him because it's only natural."
How did you take Papu Gomez's suspension, considering he played against you in the Europa League last year?
"I took it that he received a two-year suspension. There are competent bodies that protect everything, and we don't have to dwell on what happened in Seville; it's all in the past. We have to look ahead to try to build and work under the best conditions."
Will Daniele Rugani play on the left?
"Daniele (Rugani) can play anywhere; he's a reliable player who has grown in terms of personality. When you call him to play, he always delivers, and I'm confident. Then we have Huijsen, who had a bit of a moment because he's still young, but he's also ready to play if necessary."
With the absences, is McKennie more likely to play in the midfield? Allegri said:
"It's more likely that Samuel Iling-Junior will play as a midfielder, Yildiz as a second striker, a player who scores and helps score. There are various options like McKennie; Iling can play as a midfielder, and maybe later on, we can play with two midfielders. With Fagioli's suspension and Pogba's absence, Nonge has joined us since yesterday, and he will be with us permanently."
