17 January 2016
Measured, precise and controlled on the field and all of the above off it, Sami Khedira is fast becoming an indispensable piece of Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus jigsaw.
The latest evidence for this statement came in Saturday afternoon’s 4-0 thrashing of Udinese as the summer arrival from Real Madrid stooped to nod home Paulo Dybala’s centre to notch his second goal in as many matches and his fourth in all competitions this season.
Speaking to the Sky Sports Italia cameras immediately after the game at the Dacia Arena Friuli, the imposing German offered a typically flawless post-match assessment of his side’s performance while warning that the hard work is truly just beginning.
“I am happy to have got myself on the scoresheet today and for the result,” Khedira began. “We are playing very well, we are in great form but we still haven’t achieved anything, we mustn’t let up.”
“We have to make sure that we keep this run going. It’s a long season and we are only in second place at the midway point of the season.”
Naturally, the midfielder’s attentions quickly turned to the two testing ties that lie in wait in the coming seven days as the Bianconeri face Lazio on Wednesday night in the Coppa Italia quarter-final before hosting title rivals Roma at Juventus Stadium the following Sunday.
He added, “We have so many important games coming up, beginning of course with Lazio and Roma. The teams around us won’t give anything away, they are all strong sides. That said, we are feeling great and enjoying our football.”
And a quick word on a certain Champions League showdown with Bayern Munich?
“There are four weeks to go and we are ready. It won’t be an easy game but we’ll play it knowing that we have a great chance of reaching the next round.”
