02 November 2017
Mattia De Sciglio called for Juventus to work on keeping their concentration levels high for the whole game after the Italian made his return from injury in the 1-1 draw at Sporting Clube de Portugal on Tuesday night.
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, the Italian full-back also expressed his satisfaction at returning to the Bianconeri fold a full 49 days after the injury he suffered at Camp Nou against Barcelona, but acknowledged that there was still work to do for him to achieve full fitness.
SPORTING CP IN SUMMARY
"I feel good and had been training with the squad for two weeks beforehand, but obviously to reach peak condition – which is my main objective – I need matches.
"Our first half against Sporting wasn’t the best and we put our chances of qualifying from the group at risk, but we did well to equalise after the break. It was a good illustration of just how important it is to maintain our concentration from the first minute to the 90th."
ALLEGRI'S AID
De Sciglio went on to praise Massimiliano Allegri for his support over the past few weeks.
"The coach just told me to stay calm, do what I do best and let my instincts guide me," said the full-back. "I managed to keep myself relaxed and focused on working hard and recovering so I could help the team."
JUVE'S RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
The Juventus No.2 – who in the midst of his first season with the Bianconeri, having joined from AC Milan in the summer – has been impressed by the spirit he has encountered in Turin.
"As soon as I arrived, I could see why Juve had won the title six years in a row," he said. "They work hard, are professional and have impressive attention to detail here."
END-OF-SEASON AMBITIONS
Last but certainly not least, De Sciglio revealed his big target for the season ahead – aside from helping Juve to clinch a seventh straight Scudetto crown.
"I want to be at the World Cup in June," he said. "For now, I’m just focusing on getting better, improving my fitness and being available for selection by the coach."
