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Allegri reacts to Dinamo victory

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Allegri reacts to Dinamo victory
Allegri reacts to Dinamo victory
Allegri reacts to Dinamo victory

Finishing top of Group H and earning a place in the Champions League knockout stages was the first major hurdle this season and Juve cleared it comfortably, so you would expect to find Massimiliano Allegri in good spirits after the Bianconeri saw off Dinamo Zagreb with ease.

“It was our first objective of the season, we've achieved it and I'm happy,” the boss said after Wednesday's 2-0 success in Turin.

“We played better after the break today but the main thing was to win this home game.”

Allegri went on to explain why he decided to make a tactical reshuffle in the second half.

“I wanted us to channel more of our play through the middle. In the first half we spent too much time in the wide areas and we looked laboured at times.

“We need to improve our movement and make it harder for our opponents to keep tabs on us. It's not so much the formation you go with but how you interpret it.”

The Bianconeri coach also had a few words to say for Daniele Rugani, who opened his Champions League account on Wednesday with his second goal in as many outings, and Miralem Pjanic.

“Rugani is improving all the time and he's got a big future ahead of him at Juve.

“Pjanic has clocked up a lot of games. He found less space to play in tonight but he still produced some great football.”

With Paulo Dybala making his return to the pitch after a spell on the sidelines, the boss was quizzed about the possibility of the Argentine featuring in a three-pronged attack with Gonzalo Higuain and Mario Mandzukic.

“We'll have to see about that. It's something you could perhaps imagine happening in the second half.

“We've got lots of players and you need to get the most out of their different skills and attributes.”

Finally, Allegri insisted that Juve must cast European football from their minds for a while now.

“We won't be thinking about our next Champions League matches or even our last-16 opponents. We'll take whatever the draw holds for us.

“Now it's time for us to focus on the league and then the Super Cup.”

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