02 January 2018
THE TASK AT HAND
"Coming up are two games that we cannot get wrong, tomorrow we have to qualify for the next round of the TIM Cup, and we must get three points on Saturday against Cagliari, otherwise we throw away everything that we have done."
"We absolutely will not underestimate our opponents tomorrow, because first and foremost it is a derby and a derby is a game within itself. Our goal is to win because for us the TIM Cup is an objective of ours, just like the Scudetto and the Champions League, so we have to prepare for it in the best manner. 72 hours after tomorrow’s game we’ll have the last match before the winter break."
"One thing is certain, for us to get through to the next round we can’t play the same as we did in Verona, it’s true that we have got through a tough period of difficult matches, but we have a run of games where we cannot afford to make mistakes. Tomorrow we can only win or lose, and in the league, we have to stay close to Napoli and not drop any points that will see us fall behind them."
DERBY TEAM NEWS
"The players that are out of tomorrow night's match are Buffon, Cuadrado and De Sciglio, but they are all close to returning. In fact, De Sciglio worked with the team yesterday so could be available for Cagliari at the weekend."
"Dybala will play tomorrow either as a false nine or partnering Mandzukic and Higuain, but one of that pair will be rested. Meanwhile, Rugani could line up in defence and Marchisio could play from the start tomorrow and I’ll decide later who would partner him in the midfield in the event that he does play from the off."
"Also, one of Lichtsteiner or Sturaro will play at right-back."
COACHES' LIFE
"I enjoy being a football manager, but I'm not someone who spends 24 hours a day always thinking about it. I thank Gianluigi Buffon for his kind words in the press. I count myself fortunate to be training world-class players and people."
"In the end, the results I’ve achieved are all down to the players that I’ve had, I consider myself a lucky coach because in the two years at Cagliari and the eight years after at Milan and Juve I was fortunate to train great champions and that makes the difference. I’m certainly not one of those who says that tactics alone will win you games, because I think it is mainly down to the players. I believe football is something simple and it's important to have great players at your disposal and use them in the best way so that they can express themselves properly."
