Allegri’s challenge: “Juventus is out of the Champions League, but I don’t know when Pogba will be back. And Vilhovic…”

The pose is the classic one, hands in the pockets of his sweatpants, but his face is a little more tanned and a little less painted than it was a month and a half ago. Massimiliano Allegri has just completed his first training session in the United States. Looking around, Levi’s stadium is beautiful and majestic, but unfortunately empty, because the friendly match against Barcelona was canceled at the last moments due to a virus that infected many Blaugrana players. “Sure, it was better to play,” is the catchphrase at the home of the San Francisco 49ers, as footballer McKinney, Pogba, Vlahović and a few other teammates enjoyed throwing the oval ball. Juventus are now accustomed to managing the unexpected, the box in which they left off most in Monopoly last year, and aren’t bothered by delaying their debut. “Last year was special – says the coach – in terms of mental energy there was a very high expenditure. The new season will be different, we have to start again with confidence”. Next to him is Cristiano Giuntoli, the new director of the sports area, who is listening and nodding. These are his first days as a Juventus player “on the field” and the manager, as Max calls him, does not want to miss his coach’s first official words in 2023-24. Confident but also low, because the word scudetto is never mentioned.

Allegri, how is Juventus and how did he start again after a particularly grueling 2022-23?

“We start again with the full squad available, even if we have to deal with some physical problems which, however, are normal at the start of the season. It’s still July, we’ll have the whole month of August to sort out the squad if we need, otherwise we’re so full. I want to remind you that this squad finished third in the league last year, so we just need to try to restart in the best possible way. . Because if we play in Europe we’ll have to build some kind of squad, without cups, we’ll have to build another.”

We just watched Pogba cycling while the team was training on the pitch. A year ago it was the injury that plagued his entire season. How much did you miss him and at what stage was he in recovery?

“Not having a player like Paul at his disposal practically all season was definitely a penalty. Unfortunately at this stage he’s doing something different: the aim is to try to get him back as soon as possible, but at the moment we don’t know when he’ll be able to return to training with the rest of the squad.”

Will we see him on the field before the end of the round?

“No, I don’t think I’ll be able to use him in the next two tests against Milan and Real Madrid. He’s practically never worked with us, he’s progressing well but caution is needed because the same thing happened last year too: everything seemed fine and then stopped. When I see him racing, he seems better, but we have to wait at least a month to play. We’ll have to wait at least a month to see if the team is available.

How is Vlahović? He, too, like Milik, has not trained.

“The others are aches and pains at the start of the season. As for Dozan, we’re trying to manage him in the best way, let’s not forget that at the end of last season he stopped with his groin, so now let’s make sure we don’t overcharge him and put him in the best conditions for the start of the season.”

Let’s talk about the game system: will you start again at 3-5-2?

“We are working to continue what we started last year, also for the characteristics of the players. Then seasons sometimes start in one way and end in another: we need to try to improve the game situations. I definitely expect growth from those players who did well last year despite being in their first year at Juventus, and that’s why they will be able to give even more. I’m thinking of Gati, Bremer himself, and Fagiole who paid half a bit less. Out of sight, the season will be difficult and long, this month we must focus on preparing better for the start of the championship. The point, I repeat, will be understanding whether we will play in the conference or not.

Let’s talk about the market, even if it’s a subject you normally prefer to avoid… Juventus have so far signed Weah, bought back Milik and extended Rabiot’s contract: what’s missing to complete the picture?

“Actually, I talk about the transfer market every day with the manager… Let’s evaluate the team as best we can: if you can, you can improve, but it’s pointless to hire players just to increase numbers. We have good, excellent players who can improve and grow because they are young”.

The Championship: What is the point of restarting Juventus?

“Making maximum effort, even if it is normal for Juventus to seek a return to the Champions League, because from next year it will be key: it seems to me that revenues will increase by 20-30%, so the ability of an Italian club to play in the Champions League is very important in many respects. And without a penalty, we must remember, we would have played it again this year, given that we finished third on the pitch.”